WHEREAS, September 17, 2025, marks the two hundred thirty-eighth anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion; and

WHEREAS, Public Law No. 915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating Constitution Week; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of the past one-hundred years, the Fort Lewis Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution has worked tirelessly in support of the Salem Community by volunteering thousands of hours of their time in service each year (7,724.5 hours in 2024), providing donations of money and items needed for local schools and other worthy causes; and

WHEREAS, the local DAR chapter has supported the Salem area by attending the 2024 “Ringing of the Bells” on Constitution Day, supported education by providing 100 Constitution Day Bags with information on the American Flag, Constitution, bookmarks and other information for local elementary students, participated in the Salem VA Medical Center Country Store, donated many items needed by Veterans, collected and donated used eyeglasses, can tabs for recycling, toiletries for the Rescue Mission, collected and sent coupons and cards to active duty military, and provided volunteers to work in the Salem Museum Library each Friday; and

WHEREAS, the local DAR Chapter hosted the 28th Annual July 4th Ringing of the Bell at the Salem Civic Center, organized Salem’s second annual “Wreaths Across America” event, researching graves, raising funds and laying wreaths on graves of veterans in East Hill and East Hill North Cemeteries, hosted a Veterans Day Event at the Argonne Circle War Memorial, made “Valentines for Veterans,” served breakfast and greeted returning Veterans for two local Honor Flight Send-Offs serving Veterans in Southwest Virginia, presented a Community Service Award to John Hildebrand, hosted a wreath laying ceremony at the Salem Museum Veterans’ Garden, and encouraged our churches and others to Ring their Bell on Constitution Day;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor of the City of Salem, Commonwealth of Virginia, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17 through 23, 2025, as CONSTITUTION WEEK in the City of Salem and ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals the Framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Salem to be affixed this the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

Mayor of the City of Salem, Virginia

COUNCIL MEMBERS
John Saunders
H. Hunter Holliday
Randy Foley
Anne Marie Green
Renée Ferris Turk

ATTEST:
H. Robert Light
Clerk of Council
City of Salem, Virginia