TIFTON — The Tifton city council has declared the period from Sept. 17 to Sept. 23 Constitution Week.

Mayor Julie Smith offered a proclamation to the patriotic nonprofit Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate the week as a means of honoring the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution during the city council meeting Monday.

In said proclamation, Smith spoke on the ideals and beliefs that the men of the Constitutional Convention had built the Constitution on 237 years ago, and encouraged the residents of Tifton to honor, remember and uphold those ideals throughout the next week and beyond.

Smith also thanked the members of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their service in promoting and honoring such a momentous anniversary for the nation.

Bobby Fresh, speaking on behalf of the nonprofit, thanked the city in turn for their support, and announced that they would be organizing a collection of events over the next few days in celebration of the anniversary.

This began with the ringing of the bell at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Tuesday at 4 p.m., symbolizing the official time the Constitution was signed all those years ago. 

Following that, the nonprofit planned to host a constitutional program at Tift County High School’s Performing Arts Center Wednesday with the student council, in which the students will sign a proclamation promising they would do all they could to uphold the values of the Constitution.

The school’s drama and ROTC departments will accompany the program as well, with the drama club putting on a historic reenactment and the ROTC performing a drill in honor of the anniversary.

Smith encouraged those in attendance of the city council meeting to participate in the upcoming program, confident it would be an entertaining experience.