Rachel Nordenhök

This year’s Constitution Week marks the 236th Anniversary of the greatest form of government the world has ever known. Our Constitution has been an inspiration that changed the trajectory of world history for the perpetual benefit of mankind. It put the governance into the hands of the people.

Constitution Week was initiated by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1955, and was signed into law in 1956, by President Dwight Eisenhower. Today we are encouraged to educate, commemorate, and celebrate the U.S. Constitution each year for the week of September 17-23.

The Constitution sets out our fundamental rights and civil liberties, and is written to protect citizens and also the states. It ensures rights, prevents the federal government from infringing on these rights, and creates laws. The guiding principles were designed to protect our way of life and to define the powers and functions of the national government.

Our Constitution requires the attention and devotion of all citizens. Upon exiting the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a group of citizens what sort of government the delegates had created. He said “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

Our democratic republic, besides being founded upon the consent of the people, is also dependent on the continued involvement of the people to keep it in good health.

The Constitution is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the country’s history and values. It is the supreme law of the U.S. and a document that every citizen should be familiar with. Constitution Week is a great time to learn more about this important historical document and to celebrate the freedoms it gave us.

This year in central Oregon, the Bend Chapter NSDAR was honored to be presented with Constitution Week proclamations from the cities of Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville as well as the Redmond School District. There will be displays in the Crook County and Jefferson County libraries, and there was a “Bells Across America” event at the Madras Public Library on Sept. 16.

Free Constitution courses are available online for everyone at Hillsdale College and the National Constitution Center.