Charters of Freedom Dedication

It took the better part of four and a half years, but the Charters of Freedom installation at the

James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage is now complete. Assisting in the dedication ceremony are, from left to right: former Museum Executive Director Bethany Sullivan, founder of Foundation Forward, Inc. Vance Patterson, Town of Orange Mayor

Harrison Cluff, JMM Board President Jessica Thompson, current Museum Executive Director Shannah Mort, Orange County Historical Society President Ray Ezell, Orange Town Planner John Cooley, and performer of the National Anthem Leighton Carter.

The brick installations house brass plaque replicas of the Declaration of Independence,

the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil Rights amendments. This

is the 68th installation of its kind in the United States. Non-profit Foundation Forward, Inc. founder Vance Patterson challenged those in attendance to, “bring your child, you grandchild,

your niece, nephew or other family member, to your Charters of Freedom…Tell them about their freedoms and rights and how those freedoms and rights give them an advantage over the

rest of the world to pursue their passion, to chase their dream, to accomplish their goals and get out of life what they want to get out of life.“

The entire proceedings of the Charters of Freedom dedication ceremony can be viewed by clicking on this link: