Greene County receives a permanent replica of the Charters of Freedom at the Greene County Museum
Photo: From Greene County, NC Facebook page.
A grand celebration of freedom and patriotism took place in Snow Hill, North Carolina today, as the 74th Charters of Freedom setting nationwide was dedicated in the Greene County Museum Courtyard at 101 Northwest Third Street, Snow Hill, NC. This setting, the 46th of its kind in North Carolina, includes full-scale replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil Rights Amendments.
Patriotic music preceded the event, welcoming attendees as they settled in.
The ceremony then began with a welcome from the Museum’s Founding President, Mrs. Mary Betty Kearney, followed by an invocation from County Commissioners Chairman, Mr. Benny Heath.
The Presentation of Colors was led by Greene County Veterans Service Officer, Mr. Ray Holloman, and a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem was performed by the Greene Central High School Band, led by Mr. Andrew Howell.
County Commissioners Vice-chair, Mr. Jerry Jones, then led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Economic Development Director, Mr. Trey Cash, took the podium and recognized several individuals for their contributions and attendance, including Museum President George Mewborn, all members of the Greene County Board of Commissioners in attendance, Snow Hill Mayor Dennis Liles, and many others. A representative from U.S. Senator Thom Tillis’ office was also in attendance.
The ceremony then shifted to a presentation by Foundation Forward, Inc., the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with communities across the country to build these Charters of Freedom settings. Foundation Forward’s Communications Director, Mike Unruh, recognized the members of their team who were in attendance, including Perry Snider, Ben Hilton, and Taylor Nichols, before introducing the organization’s Co-founder, Vance Patterson.
Mr. Vance Patterson. spoke.
Upon the first time laying his eyes on the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives, Vance Patterson said that he “got goosebumps”. Then he read the Constitution's first three words - “We the People,” and Patterson said; “I actually got a lump in my throat”, and his wife, Mary Jo, was “wiping tears out of her eyes.” The couple wanted to bring that experience to their hometown of Morganton, North Carolina. Two years later, they dedicated the first replica Charters of Freedom display, which includes life-size replicas of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
Vance and Mary Jo established Foundation Forward, Inc. with the three principles of “providing education on American History and Civics so people know how the government is supposed to work, providing easy access to see the documents in a local setting, and providing communities a place to honor and reflect”. The Pattersons then began building settings in several other locations across the country, including sites in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Nevada, Florida, California, Missouri, New York, Georgia and as far north and west as Wasilla, Alaska.
The setting also includes a display of the Civil Rights Amendments, which encompasses the 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, and 24th Amendments that abolished slavery, guaranteed citizenship, gave voting rights to all citizens (male and female), and eliminated the Poll Tax.
“Now, let me ask you”; Patterson said to the crowd. “Are you ready to become a part of history? Because we’re going to dedicate YOUR Charters of Freedom setting and it’s going to be here for the next 300 to 500 years and your future generations are gonna know that you were here.”
This is the 74th Charters of Freedom setting outside of Washington, DC. According to Patterson, the long-term goal of Foundation Forward, Inc. is to place similar displays in all 3,143 counties, boroughs, parishes, independent cities, and census zones throughout the United States.
“We believe it gives us a direct link to our founding fathers by helping to preserve what it is they gave this country - a government to serve and protect we the people,” Mr. Patterson noted. “Two of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, were big proponents of education. They believed that in order to have a free and independent country you must first understand how government works. That you cannot control what you do not understand.”
Each Charters of Freedom setting also contains a vault that will eventually hold a time capsule. Included in the time capsule will be letters from local dignitaries, along with veterans, first responders, civic, business, law enforcement, and education groups, among others. There will also be a signed list of everyone in attendance at the Dedication Ceremony and other related events. All time capsules in the entire country will be opened on Sept. 17, 2087, the Constitution's 300th Anniversary. Patterson added; “Our hope is that our future generations, our future leaders, will come from these communities that have their own Charters of Freedom setting. That their kids will grow up no longer just talking about the Constitution and Bill of Rights in Washington. They will be talking about their Constitution and their Bill of Rights, the ones they grew up with right here in Greene County.” Some of those future leaders who were here today may be the same ones to open this very time capsule and read their names along with those of their ancestors.
Patterson challenged the crowd to bring their children and friends to the Charters of Freedom and “tell them about how their freedoms and rights give them an advantage over the rest of the world to pursue their passion, to chase their dreams, to accomplish their goals and get out of life what it is they want to get out of life.”
Vance presented a signed certificate commemorating the event to Mr. Heath on behalf of the Board of Commissioners. Patterson was then joined by Jaylen Moore, an honorary drummer from the Greene Central High School Band, who accompanied the reading of each of the seven Articles of the Constitution. After each Article was read, a powerful ceremonial cannon volley echoed in the distance. The honorary cannoneers for the event were local military veterans and elected officials.
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