Article by Bonnie Briscoe, DAR member
The Friends of the Library and the Gila Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will co-host a Constitution Week program on Sept 18, covering the U.S. Constitution, patriots in the revolution and looking ahead to America’s 250th celebration.
The presentation is set to take place from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Safford City-Graham County Library Annex, located at 814 S. Central Ave., directly behind the train depot. Admission is free. Refreshments will be provided by a chapter of great cooks and The Rustic Barn Bakery.
DAR chapter vice regent, Cindy Clonts, will highlight events planned by DAR to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and encourage others to recognize this patriotic milestone in 2026.
Paula Price, a DAR member with a passion for history, will share well known events that led up to the writing of the Declaration of Independence, and, not so well known, the heart-rendering stories of the sacrifices of the signers, who put their lives on the line for America to be independent. In addition, those attending will gain new awareness of the numerous ups and downs of that document after it was signed in 1776.
Following this presentation, 20 books about the journey of the declaration of independence will be distributed to young people in the audience. Families are encouraged to attend in order to receive a copy.
Talana Hooper, DAR chapter historian and well-known local author, will share stories of two of the thirty revolutionary patriots that are in her family line. Those stories will demonstrate the sacrifices made by her 5th great grandfathers for the freedoms that have been passed down through the generations.
Ruth Hernandez, DAR chapter librarian and another passionate historian, will show that two or more cultures within a family line can have those who supported America’s move toward independence. Seventeen of her patriots show up through her mother’s English line. Ruth will share one of those patriots who survived many tragedies in his lifetime.
The observance of Constitution Week was initiated by DAR in 1955 and adopted by Congress in 1956 as a way to recognize the importance of the US Constitution. In this chapter’s Constitution Week program, local high school students, who are winners of the 2025 DAR Patriotic Essay Contest, will be recognized by DAR scholarship chair, Helen Masten, as portions of their essays are read about how the Constitution protects their personal freedoms.
U.S. Constitution booklets and copies of the Declaration of Independence will be available for those attending.
For further information about this patriotic program: contact the library (928) 432-4165; Chapter Regent Sue Ellen Angle sueellenanglegvdar@gmail.com, Bonnie Briscoe (928)428-5904); or any other member of the local DAR Gila Valley Chapter.
