WHEREAS, September 17, 2024, marks the two hundred thirty-seventh anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion; and
WHEREAS, Public Law No. 915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating Constitution Week; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of the past ninety nine years, the Fort Lewis Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution has worked tirelessly in support of the Salem Community by volunteering thousands of hours of their time in service each year, providing donations of money and items needed for local schools and other worthy causes; and
WHEREAS, the local DAR chapter has supported the Salem area by attending the 2023 “Ringing of the Bells” on Constitution Day, donating 64 books about our founding Patriots to Carver Elementary, made over 100 Constitution Day Bags for local elementary students, collected supplies needed at the Salem VA Healthcare Center, collected and sent coupons and cards to active duty military, passed out flags at the Red Sox Veterans Appreciation night, and provided volunteers to work in the Salem Museum Library each Friday; and
WHEREAS, the local DAR Chapter has hosted the July 4th Ringing of the Bell at the Salem Civic Center, organized Salem’s first annual “Wreaths Across America” event, researching graves, raising funds and laying wreaths on graves of veterans in East Hill and East Hill North Cemeteries, contributed to the local Honor Flight Send-Off serving Veterans in Southwest Virginia, and encouraged our churches and others to Ring their Bell on Constitution Day; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor of the City of Salem, Commonwealth of Virginia, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17 through 23, 2024, as
CONSTITUTION WEEK in the City of Salem and ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Salem to be affixed this the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Renée Ferris Turk, Jim Wallace, H. Hunter Holliday, Bill Jones, Randy Foley