The Charters of Freedom installation, The Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Civil Rights Amendments, was dedicated on Wednesday, May 27th, as part of the nationwide America 250 celebrations. This will be a permanent installation at the Rowan Community Center, 1965 Jake Alexander Blvd. W, Salisbury. RCDP saw some familiar faces in attendance.
As part of the nationwide America 250 celebration, this installation brings the words and signatures that shaped our nation right here to our community – creating a space for learning, reflection, and civic pride for generations to come.
Rowan County will be the 78th Charters of Freedom setting permanently placed in communities across the country and the 48th in the state of North Carolina by Foundation Forward, a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit created by Vance and Mary Jo Patterson of Burke County, North Carolina. The inspiration to set up Foundation Forward followed their first visit to the National Archives to see the founding documents.
Vance Patterson, Founder – “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.” “It was really an emotional experience,” Vance recalled.
The Pattersons now work to bring that emotional experience to communities across the country, having completed settings in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and as far north and 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.
Foundation Forward, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit. For more information, visit www.chartersoffreedom.com or call Mike Unruh, Director of Communications and Resources, at (910) 508-3165.