Local & State Headlines

Documents show history

• On Presidents Day, officials honor the country's past.

Barbara Rivera Holmes

ALBANY — To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty.

So reads the preamble to the Georgia Constitution, ratified on Jan. 2, 1788.

Those who missed civics class or need a refresher course on on America’s founding documents can visit the Dougherty County Judicial Building, where nine of the country and state’s most celebrated texts are on display.

Dougherty County commissioners dedicated the exhibit, funded through private donations, Monday just before their 10 a.m. meeting.

“The documents that you see here today are the foundation of American government,” said Chip Gresham, pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Albany. “Dougherty County and Albany, Georgia, still uphold America’s founding principles.”

In 2006, the Georgia General Assembly allowed for these documents to be hung within government buildings.

Gresham and Joe Carr, pastor at First Baptist Church of Putney, collected the donations that funded $895 display. The donations came from a variety of sources, including contributions by individuals and at least one professional organization.

Dougherty County is one of a handful in the state with the display; among those who have it are Worth and Turner counties. Lee County Commissioner Wally Roberts attended the dedication Monday and said, “I want to get it in Lee County.”

Dougherty County Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard said that through the display, “We’re taking a stand ... (and) protecting our history and how our country got here today.”

“If you don’t know where you come from you’ll never know where you’re going,” said Carr on the importance of making the documents available to the public.

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