The Constitution Week committee met early in the year to get a game plan of what we wanted to do this year. It was going to be tough topping our Preamble Scramble or Constitution Jeopardy. Those were very fun activities but by changing up our Constitution Week activities this year, we reached more students than ever before! We were going to make the Constitution Week packets, along with “just walking” in the parade for Constitution Day.
Constitution Week started earlier in the year with contacting sources to obtain free pocket constitutions. Ladies ordered pocket constitutions 100 at a time and had them delivered to their homes. We gathered them and kept them in storage until the time to assemble. Our final delivery from a very generous donor, we received 1300 pocket constitutions at one time. Our goal of 2,000 pocket constitutions was met! With our Constitution Week helpers, 2000 Constitution Week packets were filled with a pocket constitution, candy, pencil, sticker, and patriotic bookmark. These helpers grabbed grandkids and sat in front of the TV, at the dining room table, in their lawn chairs, and anywhere else they could spread out to stuff these packs for our youngest generations.
The committee chair contacted all schools in Perry Township, Franklin Township, Beech Grove, and other parochial schools to get a headcount for deliveries. In addition to the Constitution Week packets, any school that had a library was offered our Constitution Week display items, which included a Constitution Week poster, a vase with flowers, a stand, a tent card with Constitution Week title, and a mat to place them all on. The librarians were asked to please place age-appropriate patriotic books with the display. We were not turned down by any schools contacted!
The committee then started the delivery of the packets the first of September to make sure they were in the schools in plenty of time. The 4th-grade teachers who were teaching the Constitution were thrilled to get the packets to enhance their curriculum for that week. We were also told that if we do them again next year, they would love to be on our delivery list!
Our DAR Community Classroom Bulletin Board committee did not disappoint this year with their beautiful Constitution Week bulletin board placed at South Grove Elementary School. Their boards are always informative, colorful, and fun to read for the children. Thank you, Suzanne S., Linda S., Sharon M., and Deb P. for your constant attention to the bulletin boards.
As an added bonus this year, the Samuel Bryan Chapter was able to obtain a proclamation from Governor Eric Holcomb commemorating Constitution Week for the State of Indiana!
The day before Constitution Week began, the committee participated in the Beech Grove Fall Festival parade. The ladies were dressed in colonial attire and passed out flags and candy to the spectators. Constitution questions were asked of those we walked past. It was great to hear “correct answers” and fun to tease those who did not.
Many thanks to this year’s committee members for all of your efforts: Gina A., Megan L. and daughter, Jennifer L. Paula K., Kim S., Donita R., and Patti M.. Anyone wanting to join this amazing committee for 2024, just give us a flag wave!
