Yadkin County receives a permanent replica of the Charters of Freedom.
A grand celebration of freedom and patriotism took place yesterday, Thursday, May 29th, at 11:00 a.m. in Yadkinville, North Carolina, as the nation’s 70th Charters of Freedom setting was formally dedicated at 101 S. State Street, Yadkinville, NC 27055. This setting, the 42nd 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.
A recording of the entire event is available for viewing on the Your Charters of Freedom Facebook page and on YouTube, as well.
As guests settled in for the event, Yadkin County Board of Commissioners Chairperson David Moxley welcomed the crowd and acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
A touching invocation followed, with everyone bowing their heads in prayer led by Pastor Chris Hauser of South Oak Ridge Baptist Church.
The Presentation of Colors was conducted by the Yadkin VFW Post 10346 Honor Guard, and the National Anthem was beautifully performed by retired Yadkinville Police Chief Dawn Pardue, moving everyone in attendance.
Yadkin County Commissioner Cliff Collins then led the Pledge of Allegiance, adding an even more heartfelt touch to the ceremony.
Following this, Commissioner Ricky Oliver took the podium to recognize other community leaders in attendance, including Clerk of Court Brooke Snow, Sheriff Nick Smitherman, Yadkin County Board of Education members (Kenny Gooden, Michael Norman, and Tim Weatherman), Yadkinville Mayor Pro Tem Monta Davis-Oliver, Town Manager Mike Koser, and Police Chief Phillip Scott.
A recognition of sponsors and contributors was then delivered by Commissioner Tim Parks, who gave thanks to CW Electric Co., Yadkin Concrete, along with County employees Dwayne Stanley and Caleb Poplin.
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 Connie and Perry Snider, Larry and Amanda Coffey, Don Ramsey, Dr. David Streater, and Ron Lewis, before introducing the organization’s 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 various locations across the country. To date, these projects span 17 states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, 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 69th 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.”
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 Yadkin County Commissioners Chairman David Moxley.
Following his remarks, Vance Patterson returned to the podium to read each of the seven Articles of the Constitution. As he concluded, a powerful ceremonial cannon volley echoed in the distance, adding a dramatic and reverent tone to the proceedings.
The honorary cannoneers for the event included County Commissioners David Moxley, Cliff Collins, Ricky Oliver, and Tim Parks, along with local veterans David Shore, Randy Miller, and James Cline.
For more information, please visit www.chartersoffreedom.com or call 828-522-1400.