Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The U.S. bases its livelihood on the contents of the Constitution. Newspapers, government, religion and businesses could not exist as they do without the words found in the Constitution.
Daniel Stevens wants Indiana to know how the Constitution works. He decided to hold an "I signed the Constitution" event Monday at the Warsaw Community Public Library from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m to help people learn.
"It affects people so much. A lot of times people don't see how it affects them. People who work can see it in their pocket books, though," Stevens said.
The event is held annually during Constitution Week, Sept. 17 to 23. An estimated 1.5 million people participated in 1997. Each participant receives a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution and other educational material.
The ceremony will help the community learn more about the Constitution. The public can view a 5-foot replica of the Constitution. Parchments will be on hand for the public to sign. The parchments will then be sent to the National Constitution Center, which is sponsoring the Constitution week.
The NCC was established by Congress through the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988. It is a non-partisan, non-profit organization established to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution, its history and its relevance to our daily lives.
Stevens became involved with the NCC almost by accident.
"I've heard things like, 'That is Constitutional law,' and I just wanted to read (the Constitution) myself," Stevens said.
Stevens searched the Internet and found the NCC's site. They offered free copies of the Constitution for anyone who wanted one. Stevens asked for one, he said.
He then sent a letter to local newspapers highlighting what the NCC had to offer. The letter was sent to the NCC by a reader. The NCC called Stevens.
"My first thought was that I was in trouble," he said.
Instead, the NCC told him that they had a large response to his letter and they wanted him to host an event. At the time, Stevens said, Indiana did not have any volunteers to host an event. Now, he said, there are at least three in Indiana.
Approximately 1,000 booklets on the Constitution will be available at the WCPL.
"What I would like to see is me running out of those copies," he said.
If Stevens' goal is met, an address to request more copies will be on hand.
