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Did you know that this year marks the 60th anniversary of Constitution Week?

Miss Gertrude S. Carraway, while president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, was responsible for the annual designation of Sept. 17 to 23 as Constitution Week. The DAR made its own resolution for Constitution Week, which was adopted April 21, 1955.

Members of Congress received the DAR resolution and, on June 7, 1955, the resolution was discussed in the Senate. The first resolution to observe Constitution Week was made June 14, 1955, by U.S. Sen. William F. Knowland of California. Following the passage of the resolution by both houses of Congress, President Dwight Eisenhower issued his proclamation on Aug. 19, 1955.

The first observance of Constitution Week was so successful that on Jan. 5, 1956, Sen. Knowland introduced a Senate Joint Resolution to have the president designate Sept. 17 to 23 annually as Constitution Week. The resolution was adopted on July 23 1956, and signed into law on Aug. 2, 1956.

For his patriotic aid and interest, Sen. Knowland received an award of commendation from the NSDAR’s Continental Congress in April 1956.

Kathleen Smith

Shawnee Fort Chapter

Daughters of the American Revolution

Ashley