American Heritage Month

Homemakers for America is currently contacting members of Congress to sponsor a resolution designating the month of September as American History and Heritage Month. If you would like to help support this project by making phone calls and sending email to members of Congress please contact us and we will tell you how you can help. Below is the letter we sent to members of Congress explaining the project.

To: Members of the United States Congress                                                  May 15, 2008

From: Kimberly Fletcher

President/Founder, Homemakers for America Inc.

5523 Salem Ave #192

Dayton, OH45426

My name is Kimberly Fletcher. I am the president and founder of Homemakers for America Inc., wife a military officer and mother of 8 children. I write you today to ask you to consider passing a resolution in Congress designating the month of September as American History and Heritage Month.

As a mother, and one who has been actively involved in school, church and community, I have become increasingly concerned with the lack of knowledge the American people have for their own history. Our fast-paced world of science and technology has become the focus of our society’s educational system, and while I am a strong advocate of educating our youth in the studies of math and science, I am also keenly aware of the importance of educating our youth on America’s History and heritage.

Many would perhaps say that the past is insignificant, but I am reminded of a familiar quote by Robert A. Heinlein, “Those who forget their past are destined to repeat it.” The greatest dishonor we can do for those who have sacrificed so much for us, to establish and preserve this nation, is to forget them and the things that they have done for us.

According to a recent study released in World magazine it was reported that: 

·         51% of American high-school students think Germany, Japan, or Italy was an ally of the United States during World War II.

·         40% of seniors at America’s top 55 colleges do not know that Abraham Lincoln was the president during the Civil War.

·         40% of seniors at America's top 55 colleges do not know that the document establishing the separation of powers in our government is the U.S. Constitution.

·         69% of voting age Americans think that Karl Marx's principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" either is or might be a quotation from the U.S. Constitution.

·         0% of America's top 55 colleges have an American history requirement. 

Though these statistics are staggering, they unfortunately do not surprise me. Just a few weeks ago my husband and I taught a citizenship class for a group of boy scouts. We gave them a sample test of 12 questions from the U.S. citizenship test. Out of 32 boys between 11 and 17 only 1 boy was able to pass the test with 6 questions right and only one of the young men questioned knew who our American allies were in World War II. This is a trend that is reaching epic proportions and I am very concerned that Americans no longer view their history as important or even relevant.

American history is no longer a requirement in most colleges and universities and elementary and high schools are just scratching the surface. We must do better. The United States of America has a magnificent history and heritage and a system of government that has never been equaled. Many nations still marvel at the success of our United States Constitution. And yet, our own citizens are largely unaware of its contents. Many of our citizens have never read the Declaration of Independence and are completely ignorant of the history behind these exceptional documents and the lives of those who sacrificed everything to leave us the legacy of freedom and prosperity which we enjoy today.

At a speech in PlymouthMassachusetts, John Quincy Adams proclaimed, "Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it." This isour heritage. It is our history. It should not be ignored and it cannot be forgotten.

In 1951, Mrs. Olga T. Weber, a mother and homemaker from Louisville, Ohio, became concerned that American citizens were taking our freedoms too much for granted and resolved to do something about it. She began distributing copies of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, flag booklets, and other patriotic leaflets to the local schools, churches, libraries and to the public in general.

In 1952, Olga Weber petitioned the municipal officers of her town to establish a Constitution Day, in honor of the ratification of the US Constitution. Because of her efforts, Mayor Gerald A. Romary proclaimed September 17, 1952 as Constitution Day in the city of Louisville. The following April, Olga requested that the Ohio General Assembly proclaim September 17^th as state-wide Constitution Day. Her request was subsequently signed into law by Governor Frank J. Lausche. 

Olga’s efforts didn’t end there however. In August of 1953 she urged the United States Senate to pass a resolution designating September 17-23 as Constitution Week. The Senate and House approved her request and it was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The city of Louisville is now known as Constitution town—an appropriate tribute to the efforts of a concerned homemaker from Ohio.

It seems fitting that today another American Homemaker from Ohio would come before you out of concern for our nation to present this request. As a mother and citizen of this country, I feel a great need to preserve our past so we can better live our future. Designating September as American History and Heritage Month is a fitting way to give honor to the heroes and patriots that have forged the way for us to enjoy the blessings we share today. 

September is the ideal month to merit this distinction. Thanks to Olga Weber, we already recognize September 17-23 as Constitution Week. September 17^th has been designated as Citizenship Day and September 11^th is patriots Day. It is the perfect month to celebrate our nation’s rich history and remarkable heritage.

The United States of America has an amazing history. She has a cherished legacy full of heroes and patriots. Our children have a right to know of these great men and women. They deserve to know their heritage. Noah Webster stated, “Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.”

How can we raise good citizens if we are not teaching our children the basic principles of our foundation? We cannot allow our history to be ignored. We cannot allow our great heritage to dwindle away as faded memories with each passing generation.

As citizens it is not only our right it is our responsibility to know our history and heritage. It is our responsibility to read and study our founding freedom documents and it is also our responsibility to pass that information on to our children. This is our legacy and we should feel compelled, even obligated, to preserve it. 

Members of Congress, I urge you to take this important step forward to preserve our past. I urge you to pass this resolution designating the month of September as American History and Heritage Month so that we who know and still remember how great this country is, can pass on our legacy and preserve America’s history and heritage to our children and our children’s children for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Fletcher