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On September 17, 2014, the Benton County Republican Women were pleased to sponsor a Constitution Day civic event in honor of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The event was held on the south lawn of the Benton County Courthouse. BCRW President, Stella Guenther, emcee, opened the ceremony and welcomed all. Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning spoke about the rights of the people that the U.S. Constitution protects and Adair Village Mayor Bill Currier focused on how blessed we are and that it is up to us to insure that future generations enjoy the same freedoms. The Young Marines of Albany posted the colors and conducted a flag-folding demonstration, while Stella read the meaning of each fold. Soloist Ellen Demarest, accompanied by Tom Demarest, sang the National Anthem and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Senator Betsy Close and Mayor Currier called off the States as representatives of Boy Scout Troop 3 placed the States on the map in order of their statehood. Jeff Kropf, former legislator, 5th generation Oregon farmer from Sublimity, former Director of the Oregon Chapter of Americans for Prosperity and current Executive Director of the Oregon Capitol Watch Foundation, spoke passionately about the constitution to the rapt attention of attendees. No people have accomplished so much to improve the living standard of man and champion freedom the world over as the free people of America thanks to the persistence and sacrifice of our founders, who in their wisdom fashioned a constitution they hoped would allow generations hence to live in freedom. The forces of tyranny are always present. What happens if we loose faith in the U.S. Constitution and fail to protect it?
