by TR Robertson
Wednesday morning, at the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, members of the District 14 Santa Margarita chapter of the DAR joined other guests and dignitaries in once again celebrating, at precisely 1:00 pm Western Standard time – 4:00 pm Eastern Standard time, the commemoration of the first reading of the U.S. Constitution, in the public square in Philadelphia in 1787. This ceremony was led by Reporter General Adele Ellisor Lancaster, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1787, the ringing of church bells marked this event, and at 1:00 pm in Oceanside, the ringing of the Mission San Luis Rey church bells also marked the event. The DAR was founded in 1890 “to promote the Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism across the United States”.
Adele began the ceremony with welcoming all in attendance. She spoke about the establishment of September 17-23rd as Constitution Week, officially enacted on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight E. Eisenhower, established from a Congressional resolution petitioned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The District 14 DAR ceremony was also joined by other members of different districts of the DAR. There are 11 chapters in San Diego and 114 chapters in all of California. A Benediction was read, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. State Regent of the DAR, Christina Ramos, was introduced who spoke about the importance of the DAR and of recognizing the founding of this country with the signing of the Constitution. Other dignitaries were introduced like District 14 Director Jennifer Halter and San Luis Rey Mission Director Helana Hazelton. Helana spoke about the importance of the bell of the Mission over the years used for calls to prayer, signaling announcements, weddings, funerals and occasions like today’s ceremony. The current Mission bells were recast in 1912 and are still used today. Gwyn Grimes, Executive Director of Mission San Luis Rey was also introduced.
Just before the next presentation, 1:00 pm arrived, the church bells signaled the time and all those in attendance who had brought bells or been given bells provided by Charla Boodry, rang the bells for one minute. All across the nation similar events were taking place. The next presenter was Melanie Burkholder, Council Member from District 1 in Carlsbad, who presented a proclamation to the District 14 DAR celebrating the beginning of Constitution Week. Charla Boodry next spoke about a fundraising project that will be used to repair a significant statue at Mission San Luis Rey.
Bringing the ceremony to a close, Adele Lancaster announced that for those interested a tour of the Sanctuary would be offered. She then led those in attendance in the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America –
“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
A singing of “My Country Tis of Thee” and a Blessing by Father Ignatius de Groot, Pilgrim of Hope at Mission San Luis Rey brought this ceremony to a close and signaled the beginning of Constitution Week.
