Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Chapter NSDAR and VFW Post 5837 have been working jointly on Constitution Week program for Morgantown Elementary School.  Our Constitution Program will be on September 17th, starting with Bells Across America at 8:05AM ringing in Constitution Week and the day’s celebrations.  The Butler County Chapter will start off the morning with a program, “Star Spangled Banner” for second grade classes at MES.  These students will be learning the history of our national anthem and the different flags used over the years through a presentation from Fort McHenry and work sheets that teaches respect due the American flag and the proper way to draw it.
The VFW Ladies Auxiliary will then present “Art for Heroes” to the third grade classes.  “Art for Heroes” was started several years ago as stepping stones to the VFW Patriot Art Contest offered at the High School level, where participants are eligible for monetary scholarships.  These students are given the chance to participate by drawing a picture, the theme being “Honoring our Veterans”. These will be displayed at the annual BCDAR Veterans breakfast on November 9, at 9:00AM at the BCHS Commons Area.  The 1,2,3, place winners are chosen by the Veterans attending and will be announced at the annual  “Veterans Program” at BCHS on November 11, at 9:00AM.  The Ladies Auxiliary will again be promoting the “Buddy Poppy” by telling the fourth grade classes the story of this important little red flower.  Each fourth grader has the chance to become a “Buddy Poppy Good Citizen 2013” by interviewing a Veteran, asking questions listed and writing a 250 word or fewer essay on their experience. They are also to tell 5 or more people about the Buddy Poppy and what it stands for.  The winners will participate in Patriotic events throughout the year: the Festival of Trees, ride in the Christmas Parade and read the anthem on WLBQ.
The Butler County Chapter will then be on stage for the fifth grade classes with “American Women in the Revolution”.  This is our second year and we have added more ladies and a son of the American Revolution also.
Our SAR gentlemen will visit Betsy Ross to see about her making our great flag.  She will tell of her life and times and what it was like to be the seamstress of our great American Flag. The “Women of the Revolution” have come to help Betsy Toss with the stars and stripes.  These nine are but a few of the women who did their part during the Revolution.  Not all of them picked up a musket; some fought with an arrow or cannon, while others took up a pen, a needle apron, or a pitchfork.  Some contributed from afar and some were right in the heat of battle.  If not for these Women of the Revolution supporting and sometimes even fighting alongside husband, brother, son, we may never have had the Constitution of the United States.  Who better to portray these women than the Butler County Daughters of the American Revolution who feel it is important for our youth to know about these remarkable women.
The Butler County Chapter NSDAR and the Ladies Auxiliary have joined these programs together to further the knowledge of the importance of being a proud patriot.  As you will notice these programs from the second grade onward hinge on the other trying to further the education of the students and promote their interest in America.
Listen during the week for Constitution Minutes on WLBQ 1570AM and learn more, about the Constitution, its framers and signers.  Did you know that more than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in congress and 33 have gone to the states to be ratified, with 27 and received?
Were you aware there is only one memorial to the Constitution? It is the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C..  The inscription reads: “Constitution Hall” a memorial to that immortal document, the Constitution of the United States, in which are incorporated the principles of freedom, equality, and justice for which our forefathers strove.
Please join us, on September 17 and help us usher in Constitution Week at 8:05 AM with “Bells Across America.” Ring a bell, honk your horn, share with friends and join in ringing “Bells Across America 2013” to remind Americans that the Constitution is a living document that guarantees the freedom we enjoy!

Submitted by Jane Eaton-Henderson