As America prepared to celebrate U.S. Constitution Week beginning Sept. 17, members of the Don José Verdugo Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) were busy placing displays at four local libraries: Montrose, La Crescenta, La Cañada Flintridge and Glendale Central.

Chapter Regent Elaine La Marr explained, “This display is to commemorate one of America’s most important documents, yet it is one of our country’s least known official observances. Members Suzanne Stanfill, Joan Carruthers and Connie Cianciarulo have worked hard to bring the Constitution to the forefront in these displays and I encourage everyone to visit.”

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started by the DAR when, in 1955, the Daughters petitioned Congress to set aside Sept. 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law on Aug. 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the celebration are to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, preserving it for posterity, to inform the people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for America’s way of life, and to encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.

Known as the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world, DAR has over 170,000 members with approximately 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries. DAR is a lineage society that is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to patriotism, historic preservation, and education. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. To learn, visit www.dar.org or contact the Don José Verdugo Chapter at (818) 249-5472.