On President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, October 1rst, the Charters of Freedom display was unveiled downtown. The display includes a copy of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. The display was provided by Foundation Forward, a 501c3 educational non-profit.

Mayor Joey Recker gave opening remarks. “When I realized that I had to speak today, I thought, I need to make it somehow a little bit personal.” He talked about his military service. “The Constitution became that to me on March 13, 1985, the day I raised my right hand and took an oath to defend this Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. My term of service in the United States Army expired almost 28 years later, in 2013, but just like every other veteran out here, I can assure you that my obligation to uphold the Constitution of the United States did not expire.”

Recker spoke of the display. “It is my hope that the Charters of Freedom will serve as a symbol of our commitment to upholding the ideals of our founding fathers, to educate future generations and to inspire us to continue to strive for a more perfect union.”

Reverend Pastor O’Bryant, of Lebanon Baptist Church, gave the invocation. The Americus-Sumter High School JROTC presented the colors, and Alecia Grant sang the national anthem. Ethan Wolfe, Commander of the American Legion Post 30, led the pledge of allegiance.

Jan Williams, of the Plains Historic Commission, also spoke. “I can assure you that President Carter is thrilled to have this here, because we want children from all over to come to Plains high school to learn about Jimmy Carter, but they also need to learn more about our nation and where our freedom came from.”

Representative Mike Cheokas also addressed those gathered. He thanked military and first responders, asking for prayers for the victims of hurricane Helene. He thanked Foundation Forward for providing the permanent display. “I can’t think of a more appropriate way for us to recognize the 100th birthday of a former president, [than] by having these founding principles written and displayed here in Plains.”

Cheokas recalled the service of one friend who was in the Eighth Air Force during the Second World War who had passed away. He spoke of his gratitude for the sacrifices and service of those in the armed forces. He also thanked the community of Plains at large. “Thank you to the city of Plains for making this day special for our former president, our neighbor, our friend.”

Congressman Sanford Bishop also gave a speech. “Good afternoon and happy birthday to our favorite celebrity, and our favorite friend and neighbor, President Jimmy Carter. Mayor Recker, Representative Cheokas, I am honored to join the Plains City Council, The Friends of Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, Foundation Forward, all of you, for today’s dedication of our nation’s Charters of Freedom. Thank you, Vance Patterson, for yours and the Foundation’s tireless efforts, bringing the Charters of Freedom to communities all across our country. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are not only a part of our history, but also the living philosophy which guides our daily lives.”

Josh Carter, President Carter’s grandson, spoke after. “Thank you for coming out to celebrate my grandfather’s 100th birthday.” He talked about the significance of the celebration. “We’re all part of history right now, because it’s the first time in America’s history that anybody celebrated the 100th birthday of an American president.”

He told of spending lunch with his grandfather. “My family and I over here, we were all fortunate enough to go and spend lunch with my grandfather, and, you know, South Georgia, so we have fried chicken, we had pimento cheese sandwiches, and we had family, and lively discussions, and we got to celebrate with our grandfather, and we got to tell him that we loved him. . . and he got to see his family, which is exactly what he wanted for his 100th birthday, so his wishes were made.” Josh Carter thanked Foundation Forward for providing the monument, and referenced remarks made by his grandfather. “He said that America did not invent human rights. Human rights invented America. And these documents behind us, that [are] about to be unveiled . . . are the product of that.”

He expressed his appreciation. “I’m very excited that on my grandfather’s 100th birthday we get to have these beautiful documents and this installation as a permanent feature in Plains. Thank you to Plains, thank you to foundation forward, and on behalf of my family, thank you very much.”

Mike Unruh, the director of resources and communications, told how the display also included a time capsule, and visitors were encouraged to sign their names so that on the 300th, 400th, and 500th anniversary of the Constitution the names could be revealed.

Unruh noted there was room for sponsors in an area in front of the Constitution. “If you would like to have your name, the name of your organization or business, or if you would like to honor a family member, you could make a tax-deductible donation and have those engraved, either a bronze plaque, a granite paver, or a brick paver.”

Vance Patterson, the founder of Foundation Forward, told the three principles of Foundation Forward. “Number one is education, education to preserve American history at the time of the founding of our country, and education in civics, so all will know how government’s meant to serve and protect we the people, federal, state, and local. Number two is access.” He told how it had taken him and his wife over sixty years to make the trip to see the founding documents. “We want to provide access to these founding documents in a proper setting, in the communities. Number three is community. Having your Charters of Freedom setting here in Plains Georgia gives your citizens a place where they can gather to celebrate, to honor and to reflect.”

Patterson gave details about the monument. “Your foundation here goes down three and a half feet. It is solid, reinforced, poured concrete coming up into a solid core. Just the core and the foundation of this one piece weighs over 38,000 pounds, over 19 tons. There are seven documents displayed here. Each one is on quarter inch etched bronze and weighs over sixty pounds.”

Patterson left the audience with a challenge to bring family members to see the display. “You tell them about their freedoms and rights, and how those freedoms and rights give them advantage over the rest of the world to pursue their passion, to chase their dreams, to accomplish their goals and get out of life what they want to get out of life. You do that, Mary Jo and I, and all of Foundation Forward, as far as this gift is concerned, we’ll call it even.”

Small cannons were fired by National Historic Park rangers, seven times for the seven articles in the United States Constitution.