Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger met this week with the members to the Chattanooga Regents Council, Daughters of the American Revolution, to proclaim Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week. 

The Chattanooga Regents Council, comprised of the regents of the five Chattanooga NSDAR Chapters and their chairperson, are Jan Miller Elliott, regent, Moccasin Bend Chapter; Susan M. Harris, regent, Chickamauga Chapter; Stacy Kehoe, representing Regent Marie Harbour, Judge David Campbell Chapter; Jessica M. Dumitru, representing Regent Linda Moss Mines, Chief John Ross Chapter; Linda S. Crawford, regent, Nancy Ward Chapter; and Natalie Blackwell, Nancy Ward Chapter and council chair.

A series of local events are planned as a part of the Hamilton County’s recognition of Constitution Week.

Constitution Week, as an official observance, was enacted on Aug. 2, 1956 by President Dwight E. Eisenhower after the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution worked with the U. S. Congress to draft a congressional resolution requesting a period to honor the document and the members of the Constitution Convention.  In 2002, following the events of 9/11, President George W. Bush called for awareness of Constitution Week as a key reminder of this nation’s strength and resolve, that the United States was founded upon the principles of representative government, an active role for citizens in their own governments and a balance of power between the national and state governments.

The purpose for observing a Constitution Week, as noted by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in their original congressional-sponsored resolution, was to promote study and education about the United States Constitution which was originally adopted on September 17, 1787.  NSDAR stated three purposes for the week:

1. Emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution.
2. Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
3. Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.

Members of the local NSDAR chapters are available for civic and classroom presentations and will be working throughout Hamilton County to promote an appreciation for the U. S. Constitution next week.