GREENSBORO – Community members pulled the rope hanging from the Greensboro United Church of Christ (GUCC) bell tower to ring the church bell, much as the church bells of Philadelphia rang out when the U.S. Constitution was first signed 238 years ago, at 4 p.m. on September 17, 1787. They joined participants gathered across the country for the Bells Across America annual celebration last Wednesday, Sept. 17.
courtesy photo
Bells Across America participants ring bells for one minute at the start of Constitution Week, which is celebrated annually September 17 to 23, to commemorate its history, importance and bring attention to how it still serves today.
courtesy photo
This celebration of the U.S. Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17 to 23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
courtesy photo
The aims of the Constitution Week celebration are to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life and encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.
Bells Across America participants gather to ring bells, much as the church bells of Philadelphia rang out when the U.S. Constitution was first signed at 4 p.m. on September 17, 1787.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
