“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” –– Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Today marks the beginning of a weeklong commemoration of the signing of the Constitution of the United States.
The first presidential proclamation was signed in 1954, and since then, Sept. 17-23 is recognized as Constitution Week annually, said Margaret Ann Ulerich, chairman of the Picayune Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution’s Constitution Week committee and commemorative events.
During this week, Ulerich visits schools and government offices to hand out posters and literature regarding the Constitution. Each year, members of Picayune’s NJROTC place flags down Goodyear Boulevard, which fly for the duration of the week.
The Constitution gives us a basis of government, Ulerich said. It is the longest actively used constitution in the world.
“It keeps the rights of the people in the forefront,” she said. “The government works for the citizens. The Constitution says, in writing, what the government can and cannot do and is often ignored.”
Ulerich said the purpose of this week is to encourage people to read the Constitution and learn what the government has power over and what it doesn’t.
“It’s not difficult to read and it’s pretty clear about governmental requirements, legal powers and limitations,” Ulerich said. “Term limits were set by our first president, George Washington, so the country wouldn’t be ruled by a king, like in the country they broke away from. Another intent was to allow ordinary citizens to serve a term as president.”
Ulerich said it’s important to remember history so citizens know where they’ve come from.
This Saturday, the DAR will meet at 10 a.m. at the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library in Picayune and guest speaker Buddy McDonald will speak about the Constitution, Ulerich said.
For more information about the Picayune chapter of the DAR contact Ulerich at 601-798-5087 or Judy Seal at 601-798-4758.
Learn more about DAR at www.dar.org.