Murphy – The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights have been relocated from their original location at the intersection of Valley River Avenue and Peachtree Street to a new address ahead of the addition of a new downtown traffic circle.
The original location of the Charters of Freedom was dedicated to Cherokee County in 2014 as a gift from Vance and Mary Jo Patterson, founders of Foundation Forward Inc. of Burke County. These founding documents, known as the Charters of Freedom, have now been permanently installed at Konehete Veterans Park, 699 Connahetta St. This relocation was made possible through the combined efforts of the Town of Murphy and Foundation Forward.
The Charters of Freedom setting will be re-dedicated at 1 p.m. today. The public is invited to attend.
Cherokee County was the second Charters of Freedom setting to be permanently placed in communities across the country by Foundation Forward, a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit. The inspiration to set up Foundation Forward followed their first visit to the National Archives to see the founding documents.
“Seeing something our founding fathers had actually penned, and then seeing their signatures – Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Rutledge, Wilson and the others – I just got goosebumps. And, then when we moved over and saw those first three words of the Constitution, ‘We the people,’ I actually got a lump in my throat,” Patterson said. “It was really an emotional experience.”
The Pattersons work to bring that emotional experience to communities across the country, having completed settings in Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Missouri, California, Florida and as far west as Wasilla, Alaska.
Foundation Forward’s mission is to install Charters of Freedom settings in easily accessible locations so communities can view these founding documents in a proper setting without having to incur the costs of traveling to Washington, D.C. These settings will provide a hands-on education in American history and civics.
“Imagine if you will school teachers bringing their third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classes to their Charters of Freedom for annual field trips to learn a little about our founding fathers, the history surrounding the beginning of our country, and how the government is meant to serve and protect We The People,” Patterson said in his dedication speech.
This local access will also provide a place for citizens to gather, celebrate, honor and reflect.
Details: Visit chartersoffreedom.com.