Bells were ringing in churches and schools across Mayes County on U.S. Constitution Day Monday.

Students at Salina High School rang hand bells; Chouteau Elementary’s large brass bell was rung; churches in Pryor, Locust Grove, Spavinaw, Langley, and Chouteau sounded their bells and chimes in observance of the special day, according to Neva Kegley of Spavinaw. Kegley organized the bell ringing as part of her task as Constitution Chairman for Union Mission Chapter NSAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution).

County churches participating included Cumberland Presbyterian in Locust Grove, Chouteau Presbyterian, Spavinaw Methodist, St Francis Catholic in Langley, and Pryor’s Episcopal and First Church of God.

Mayors in Pryor, Chouteau, Locust Grove, Salina, Adair and Langley have signed proclamations designating Sept. 17 as U.S. Constitution Day in their communities. The proclamations urge citizens to recognize and celebrate the marvelous freedoms we all enjoy because of our Constitution.

Sept. 17, begins the national celebration of Constitution Week, one of the country’s least known official observances according to NSDAR, a 122-year-old society known as the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world. DAR is a lineage-based, non-political, women’s service organization whose motto is God, Home, and Country. The group promotes Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism.

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by NSDAR. In 1955 the Daughters petitioned Congress to set aside Sept. 17-23 annually for the observance of Constitution Week. Congress later adopted a resolution to do so and Public Law 915 was signed into law on August 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the celebration are to (1) emphasize citizen responsibility for protecting and defending the Constitution, preserving it for posterity; (2) inform the people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and (3) encourage the study of historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.

“The United States of America functions as a republic under the Constitution,” said Merry Ann T. Wright, President General of NSDAR, which is headquartered in Washington D.C. “It is the oldest document still in active use that outlines the self-government of a people. The landmark idea that men had the inalienable right as individuals to be free and live their lives under their own governance was the impetus of the American Revolution. Today our Constitution stands as an icon of freedom for people around the world.

“Our Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties and freedom and to ensure those inalienable rights to every American.

“We must remember and teach that those who wrote the Constitution believed that no government can create freedom, but that government must guard freedom rather than encroach upon the freedoms of its people. The Constitution by itself cannot guarantee liberty. A nation’s people can remain free only by being responsible citizens willing to learn about the rights of each arm of government and require each to be accountable for its own function. Therefore, Constitution Week is the perfect opportunity to read and study this great document which is the safeguard of our American liberties. We encourage all citizens across the country to take time this week to guard that which is committed to us by our forefathers… our freedom.”