DAR Joshua Stevens Chapter celebrates Constitution signing anniversary

  • The Joshua Stevens Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated Bells Across America with the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department. SUBMITTED PHOTO
    The Joshua Stevens Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated Bells Across America with the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Joshua Stevens Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution of St. Cloud celebrated “Bells Across America” last month with the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department. The Fire Rescue Department rang their ceremonial bell 235 times to commemorate the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.

In 1955, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) petitioned Congress to designate Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week, and was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Aug. 2, 1956. The goal of NSDAR is to encourage study and educate the public about the Constitution. Bells Across America is a nationwide event and one of the ways we commemorate the signing of the Constitution. Fire stations, courthouses churches, schools and individuals were encouraged to ring bells on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. Eastern Times in all time zones, so they are heard simultaneously from coast to coast.

Earlier in the month, St. Cloud Mayor Nathan Blackwell presented the Joshua Stevens Chapter with the Constitution Week Proclamation in honor of Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, 2022.

The following ladies from Joshua Stevens Chapter accepted the proclamation on behalf of the chapter: Corresponding Secretary Linda Shumard, Vice Regent Kim Tennison, Chaplain Lori Swaby and Historian Ginny Brown.

“We are members of the local Joshua Stevens Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and part of our objective is to promote the reading and understanding of the Constitution. It is an honor to receive this proclamation from Mayor Blackwell,” said Florida State Society DAR State Chairman Tracy Suarez.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world. DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890.

If you are interested in learning more about Joshua Stevens NSDAR membership, visit Facebook @ JoshuaStevensNSDAR and Instagram @joshua stevensnsdar, or email joshua stevensnsdar@gmail.com.