Local Ceremony Rings The Bells Of Freedom

By CHERYL JENSEN

The Progress

The beginning of U.S. Constitution Week was commemorated with a “Bells Across America” celebration at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Mesquite on Saturday, Sept. 17. This year’s event remembered the 235th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution and was organized by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

The Veteran’s Honor Guard presented the colors at the event, and the audience joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. This was followed by a stirring rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” by Christa Belle Ford.
Sandra Ball of the DAR, spoke about the history of the U.S. Constitution and the “Bells Across America” tradition. Church bells, town and city bells rang to call the people of the town together to celebrate on Sept. 17, 1787 for the first public reading of the U.S. Constitution. America stands as a testament to the extraordinary efforts to establish the rule of law and maintain liberty, Ball said.

The DAR petitioned Congress to adopt a resolution proclaiming a week in September as Constitution Week . In 1956 the resolution was signed by Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Precisely at 1:00 PM, the members of the audience all rang their bells for one minute in celebration of the signing of this founding document. This coincided with the ringing of “Bells all Across America” at 4:00 PM (EST) in similar events in cities all over the United States.

Mayor Al Litman has proclaimed September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Mesquite. He commented that, for many years following the signing, the Constitution was read aloud from Constitution Hall in Washington D.C..

“The 52 words of the preamble set forth a profound statement of our liberties as citizens,” Litman said.
Local DAR chaplain Ruth Dickey closed the program with the prayer of George Washington. “Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou will keep the U.S. in Thy Holy Protection and that Thou will incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of obedience and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and their fellow citizens,” Dickie recited.

“The ringing of the bells will become an annual event to celebrate our founding document,” added Dickey.

The DAR chapter secured the one marker for the State of Nevada in recognition of the patriots that served in the Revolutionary War. The plaque is now on the white marble wall at the Veteran’s Park and will be dedicated on November 11.

The DAR is a service organization and will assist people in finding their ancestors who were patriots in the Revolutionary War. For more information or if you would like to join the local chapter go to dar.org.