FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jones County receives a permanent replica of the Charters of Freedom at the Jones County Civic Center.
A grand celebration of freedom and patriotism took place today in Trenton, North Carolina, as the 62nd Charters of Freedom setting nationwide was dedicated at the Jones County Civic Center, located at 832 NC Hwy 58 South, Trenton, NC 28585. This setting, the 37th 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.
The entire event was broadcast live on the Your Charters of Freedom Facebook page and will soon be available for viewing on YouTube.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Chairman Frank Emory, followed by an invocation by Vice-Chairman Charlie Dunn, Jr.
The Presentation of Colors was led by the MCAS Cherry Point H&HS Color Guard.
A beautiful rendition of the National Anthem was performed by Kelseigh Hardin, a sophomore at Jones Senior High School. Victoria Brown then led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jones County Manager Kyle Smith took the podium to recognize several elected officials and dignitaries, including those previously mentioned, as well as all active military members and veterans in attendance. He acknowledged the Jones County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Matthew Wineman and his staff, Trenton Mayor Darlene Spivey, Trenton Commissioner Rick Green, Town Clerk Glenn Spivey, Charles Jones of Brock Mill Pond, Pollocksville Mayor Jay Bender, Maysville Mayor Wayne Sayland, Maysville Town Commissioner Daniel Ryan, Town Manager Shumata Brown, Finance Officer Demetrius Jones, The Filling Station Executive Director Mary Ann LeRay, NC State Representative Chris Humphrey, Jones County Public Schools Superintendent Bryce Marquis, Assistant Superintendent Wynn Whittington, Jones County Recreation Director David Mallard, Finance Officer Blake Batchelor, Deputy Director of Administration Jennifer King, and HR Director Angelica Hall.
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 Alexis Thurlo and Omar Bonner, along with special recognition to Caroline Wilson from Congressman Greg Murphy's Office, before introducing the organization’s Founders, Vance and Mary Jo 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, California, Florida, Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Nevada, 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 62nd 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 3,142 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 Jones 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 and Mary Jo Patterson presented a signed certificate commemorating the event to County Manager Kyle Smith, before reading aloud a description of each of the seven Articles of the Constitution, with each Article being followed by an emphatic ceremonial cannon volley that echoed in the distance.
For more information, please visit www.chartersoffreedom.com or call 828-522-1400.
