Daughters of American Revolution recognize Constitution Week

ALAMOGORDO — The White Sands Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) celebrated the foundation of America by recognizing National Constitution Week Monday, an annual commemoration of the document that upholds and protects the freedoms of the United States.

According to the National Daughters of the American Revolution website, DAR is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States’ struggle for independence. They are a non-profit group that promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism.

Alamogordo Mayor Richard Boss, who was in attendance at DAR’s monthly meeting, proclaimed Sept. 17 through Sept. 23 as Constitution Week in Alamogordo to remind residents that although Independence Day is a beloved national holiday, the U.S. Constitution set forth the framework for the federal government that is still in use today.

“Thank you for the work that you do, not only for the community but for our country,” said Boss. “It is our privilege and duty to commemorate the 230th anniversary of the Constitution of the United States of America. This week is to study and reflect what it means to be an American.”

DAR member and Constitution Week Chairwoman, Cynthia Heithold said it is important to acknowledge and read the Constitution not just during Constitution Week but every day because it is the basis of our government.

“How can you be a good voter or citizen if you don’t know what it is that we stand for? A lot of people don’t remember and a lot of people are trying to change it,” said Heithold. “DAR decided we needed to have a week to remember the Constitution. It’s just to know that the Constitution is just as important as the Declaration of Independence and that everybody needs to read it.”

The National DAR initiated the observance in 1955 when the organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate Sept. 17 to 23 of each year as Constitution Week.

Congress adopted the resolution and on Aug. 2, 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into public law.

According to DAR, the celebration’s goals are to encourage the study of historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787 to inform people that the Constitution is the basis of America’s great heritage and the foundation of our way of life. It is also to emphasize U.S. citizen’s responsibility to protect, defend and preserve the Constitution.

“When I was in the Air Force, I had to take an oath to protect the Constitution,” said Heithold. “The Constitution is our founding document other than the Declaration of Independence. It is supposed to tell us how to live and how our government should be run. They forget how important it is that we elect people of Congress to protect it.”

The White Sands Chapter of DAR meets the third Monday of each month at noon at Pepper’s Grill.