In 2011, the visitors included Vance and Mary Jo Patterson from Burke
County. Reading the words penned by the Founding Fathers was an emo-tional
experience.
The experience prompted an idea. Admittance to the National Archives
is free, but it can be difficult to make the trek to D.C. What if it was possible
to take the documents to the public?
The Pattersons formed a nonprofit called Foundation Forward with a
mission to “teach and preserve American history and civics, so all will
know how our government is meant to serve and protect We the People,”
the organization’s website says.
The mission would be accomplished by installing replicas of the
Charters of Freedom in public places. The first installation took place in
Burke County in 2012. More followed, in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, Virginia, and Nevada.
In April, the replica documents came to the Cape Fear Region, when
Foundation Forward’s 34th installation was dedicated at the Brunswick
County Courthouse in Bolivia.
“The documents represented here secured the freedom and rights of
the American people and will educate and preserve American history,”
Vance Patterson said at the dedication ceremony. “Imagine, if you will,
school teachers bringing their third, fourth and fifth-grade classes for
annual field trips to learn a little about our founding fathers, the history
surrounding the beginning of our country, and how the government is
meant to serve and protect We The People.”
The memorial is located outside the courthouse, accessible to area resi-dents
and visitors around the clock, every day of the year.
But perhaps the best time to see them is in the month when we cele-brate
America’s birthday. On the 245th anniversary of the nation’s founding,
it’s worth making the short drive to Bolivia to read the words penned by
the Founding Fathers, words that set forth the ideals that make the United
States unique, and have inspired generations.
23
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