Constitution Week Celebration: Why Not At His Gravesite?



Gravesite and sepulcher of Richard Dobbs Spaight



National observance of Constitution Week began on September 17 at 3:30 p.m. with Ringing of the Bells locally at Tryon Palace by the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, other DAR Chapters, schools and groups across the nation. The Ringing of the Bells commemorates the time on Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including New Bernian Richard Dobbs Spaight, met for the last time to sign the document they created.

My thoughts, as I read in the Sun Journal, the Ringing of the Bells ceremony by the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter would be held at Tryon Palace, were “why not at his gravesite?”

We are so fortunate to have the honor of having a signer of the constitution buried in our community. Since the purpose of this week of observance is to promote study and education about the constitution, does it not seem we should be commemorating Constitution Week with an observance ceremony at Richard Dobbs Spaight’s gravesite?

This famous New Bernian, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Sr., a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788, and the first native born Governor of the state of North Carolina (serving three terms) is buried in his family’s sepulcher at Clermont adjacent to Madam Moore’s Lane. This property, owned by the MacDonald family for many years, was bequeathed by the late Ms. Hughrena MacDonald to the state of North Carolina as a part of Tryon Palace to insure this historic property/site was preserved for perpetuity.

Constitution Week presents the perfect opportunity to bring public awareness to this very historic site, especially since the actual initiative to have President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Congress officially proclaim September 17 – 23 as Constitution Week was led by Gertrude Caraway of New Bern, a member of the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter and President General of the National Society of the DAR.

Perhaps, Constitution Week 2013, the 226^th anniversary of the signing of the constitution, will include an observance at this hallowed gravesite.

Tell us what you think?

Susan Moffat-Thomas