D.A.R. Poster for 2013 Constitution Week
Our nation’s memoir will always feature the birth of our Constitution. At times it grows larger than life, and we turn to the letter writers of the time, often the women, to confirm it. This coming week will celebrate the Constitution, and reinforce its memory. The holiday of Constitution Day, commemorates its adoption by the American Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1787. The holiday was begun by Eisenhower at the request of the Daughters of the American Revolution organization, who continue to keep our national memory alive and kicking.
Another great story is just up the road, in Hendersonville. I’ll share a bit I’ve learned today about Rock Castle, an historic home there. Rock Castle was built 1784-1791 by Daniel Smith, a former officer in the American Revolution. He drafted the State Constitution of Tennessee, which was adopted, and also contributed to a constitution for the Continental Congress in 1796, which was not. But the little fact I like most about Daniel is that his interaction with the Cherokees led him to name our area “Tenasee” or [Tanasi] pronounced Ten-ah-see, with pronunciation of the center syllable, after a Cherokee village in the eastern part of the state. Isn’t that a reason to tour Rock Castle?
And how does this tie into memoir? In my own, perhaps I’ll recall carrying a pocket Constitution around with me, in my purse. I also wore red, white and blue as often as possible, buying my wardrobe to suit. Fiction? Fact, when I worked for U. S. Senator Wyche Fowler, Jr. of Georgia in the 1980s. And for the people. And by the people.
So get out the Constitution, if you really want to know what’s in it. After all, a lot of things are being attributed to this document, and its founding fathers. For this week, perhaps you’d like to visit Philadelphia’s Constitutions Center’s daily blog at http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/
Although men signed the document, and fought the war, women ran the farms and businesses they left behind, often changing locales, staying with relatives and friends, one step ahead of the changing front. Without their support, surely the men could not have led wholeheartedly. Women also made sacrifices. Today, let’s congratulate former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who received the 2013 Liberty Medal in front of Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center on Tuesday night.
Clinton received the medal in recognition of her lifelong career in public service and her ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of women and girls around the globe. Hillary’s stories affect the many. Don’t forget to save and share your own. Happy Constitution Week!
Deborah Wilbrink
Kenna
A recent visit to Philadelphia gave us a renewed appreciation and new understanding of the environment in which our constitution was debated and developed. The guides at all of the historic venues in the city were great and I hope to return with more time and encourage others to make it a priority vacation! Rock Castle is close to home for me, so I hope to get there soon – thanks for the suggestion. I had forgotten about the history of my state’s name – thanks for that too!
Deborah
Hey Kenna, always good to hear from the illustrator side of publishing…! With John Carter’s studio up in Hendersonville, and my storyteller friends Herman and Patsy Lawson, looks like we need to take a charter bus!
Kenna
Count me in…