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The Volume 121 ISSUE 3 August 2012 Liberty Bell Kansas Society Sons of the American Revolution, a Patriotic, Historical and Educational Non-Profit Organization The Bill of Rights: Its History and its Significance What is The Bill of Rights? Why were the Bill or Rights enacted? How should they be interpreted? Introduction & History of the Bill of Rights The original Constitution, as proposed in 1787 in Philadelphia and as ratified by the states, contained very few individual rights guarantees, as the framers were primarily focused on establishing the machinery for an effec- tive federal government. A proposal by delegate Charles Pinckney to include several rights guarantees (including "liberty of the press" and a ban on quartering soldiers in private homes) was submitted to the Com- mittee on Detail on August 20, 1787, but the Committee did not adopt any of Pinckney's recommendations. The matter came up before the Convention on September 12, 1787 and, following a brief debate, proposals to include a Bill or Rights in the Constitution were rejected. As adopted, the Constitution included only a few specific rights guarantees: protection against states impairing the obligation of contracts (Art. I, Section 10), provisions that prohibit both the federal and state governments from enforcing ex post facto laws (laws that allow punishment for an action that was not criminal at the time it was undertaken) and provisions barring bills of attainder (legislative determinations of guilt and punishment) (Art. I, Sections 9 and 10). The framers, and notably James Madison, its principal architect, (continued on page 16) The Liberty Bell Patriot Award Published by the Kansas Society Lyle Gibson teaches history courses at the Metro- politan Community College--Penn Valley campus; Sons of the American Revolution this year a new award was given at our 34th Annual MCC--Penn Valley Honor's Convocation; The Pa- Four Times a Year triot Award. Feb - May - Aug - Nov The Patriot Award was awarded to Lyle Gibson for John Hoag, Editor outstanding service to veteran and military students" awarded on April 27, 2012. 2111 S. 49th Street Admissions counselors will oftentimes enroll vet- Kansas City, KS 66106 eran and military students in my classes because of my past military experience and the need to inden- 913-262-4468 tify with that cohort group of students. E-mail: [email protected] Lyle Gibson was inducted into the National Society BOG MEETING Sons of the American Revolution; Kansas Society, Delaware Crossing Chapter in August of 2006, The Board of Governors will meet November 3rd at through documented lineage to his patriot ancestor 10AM at the Best Western Motel, 3021 W. Highway Charles Sansing--contributing and donating supplies 50, Emporia, KS. Committee chairmen may call for to advance the American Revolution. Gibson also a meeting of their committees before or after the has a supplemental patriot ancestor Lewis Adkins BOG meeting. Lunch is at the hotel around noon. For that served in the Virginia Continental Line. Gibson has also served as the KSSAR Rumbaugh Orations the Kansas Society to better serve the chapters, it is Chairman since 2007. By Lyle Gibson important to have at least one representative from each chapter in attendance. President Represented KSSSAR at the 114th Kansas State LADIES AUXILIARY DAR Conference in Topeka, KS on 19 May 2012. The Ladies Auxiliary will meet November 3rd at 10AM at the Best Western Motel in Emporia in con- Attended the 122nd National Congress in Phoenix, junction with the Board of Governors meeting. AZ on 7-12 July 2012. Lunch is generally at a local restaurant. All wives, mothers, sisters, etc. of KSSSAR members are cor- Don’t forget the Center for Advancing dially invited to attend. America’s Heritage PLEDGE TO THE SAR The SAR Foundation welcomes your online gifts to We descendants of the heroes of the American Revolution the ADVANCE: Campaign for New Generations for who, by their sacrifices, established the United States of The Center for Advancing America's Heritage. You America, reaffirm our faith in the principles of liberty and may also send your gifts to the SAR Foundation at our Constitutional Republic, and solemnly pledge our- 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky selves to defend them against every foe. 40203. If your company will match donations to the Upcoming Events SAR Foundation, please send your matching gift in- 24-25August - SCD Annual Conference, Branson MO formation to the SAR Foundation. Our new Library 28-29 Sept. - Fall Leadership Meeting, Louisville, KY is going to be GREAT!!! 3 November 2012 –BOG Meeting, Emporia, KS 2 Color Guard Commander June 1. Represented the SAR in uniform for the Natu- ralization Ceremony at the Frank Carlson Federal Represented KSSSAR at the 114th Kansas State Court in Topeka. DAR Conference in Topeka, KS on 19 May July 8 — 11. Attended the NSSAR National Con- 2012. gress in Phoenix, Arizonia. Attended the 122nd National Congress in Phoenix, July 27. Represented the SAR in uniform for the AZ on 7-12 July 2012. Naturalization Ceremony at the Frank Carlson Fed- eral Court in Topeka • Attended and participated in the NSSAR 122nd Congress in Phoenix, Arizona July 7 - 11th. Attended Webmaster the NSSAR Color Guard Breakfast. Attended the NSSAR Memorial Service and presentation of the Added Patriot & Graves Index to links page. Colors at the Tuesday and Wednesday evening ban- Updated cash awards for the orations, essay and Ea- quets. gle Scout contest. • Bob Capps has been named to the following NSSAR Committees by President General Leishman: Created web pages for Sons of the Plains and John 1. Strategic Planning Committee Seward chapters, and updated Fort Hayes Chapter 2. Historic Sites, Celebrations and Reenactments meeting location Committee. 3. Medals and Awards Committee Posted photos from past state conferences onto Face- 4. Information Technology Committee book page. 5. Color Guard Committee. Added 2012 SOD registration form to the SCD page 6. Patriot Index and Graves Registration Commit- and updated SCD leadership. tee 7. Retention and Reinstatement Committee Updated state handbook. and contest page. • Attended Delaware Crossing Chapter July Break- Added May Liberty Bell newsletter. fast Meeting on July 21st in Color Guard Uniform. Received a supplemental which documented and ap- Added The SAR Colorsguardsman link to the color proved my 26th Patriot Ancestor. guard page. • Signed contract with Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park for the KSSSAR Annual Conference March Sent a few e-mails asking chapter and state leadership 22nd & 23rd 2013. Room rate will be $99 per night. for updates if needed. There will be an opportunity to attend the New Thea- ter Restaurant 'On Golden Pond' starring Mike Far- Maintain the Facebook and Twitter social media sites. rell. Barney has arranged a block of tickets for $40 + It was asked at the last BOG about allowing members $2 gratuity = $42. Planning for the event continues. to upload files to the website using Cloud storage technology. I sent a ticket to the webhosting company National Trustee and they do not offer that function with our webhost- May 5. Attended the SAR BOG in Abilene. ing plan. They recommend using an online service May 16. Represented the SAR at the quarterly VAVS like dropbox.com or someone similar. meeting in the Topeka ColmeryO'Neil VA Medical Center. Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's May 19. Joined with two Compatriots in uniform pre- the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and senting the Colors at the DAR State Convention in does something about it who makes a difference. Topeka. Nolan Bushnell 3 George Washington Endowment & CAAH KSSAR submission and due dates: To my knowledge no George Washington Fund members have been enrolled since the last BOG April 15, 2013 (Monday); information regarding chapter meeting. winners of the Rumbaugh Orations contest should be The facade of the new SAR National Headquarters submitted to Lyle Gibson so that information can be pre- has been completed. Compliments have been re- ceived from visitors and businesses in the area about pared for our state orations contest to be held on May 4, the improvement in appearance. 2013. Please ensure your chapter contests are held Planning continues on renovation of the remainder of prior to April 15, 2013. Each chapter will determine the the new headquarters building. Possible action will be date for their chapter level Orations contest however en- taken at Congress in Phoenix. sure that you have a cutoff time prior to April 15, The last report I received shows that 20% of Kan- 2013. sas SAR members have contributed to the CAAH building fund. GREAT AND THANKS. KANSAS STATE SOCIETY OF THE If you or any of your chapter SAR members have not participated in funding for the CAAH AMERICAN REVOLUTION building and would like more information, BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEET- please contact me — [email protected]. ING Highlights May 5, 2012 Membership Tim reports membership activities for the state Call to Order: By President David Comer, at the Best Western Motel, Emporia, Kansas. Presentation of the Genealogist Colors: By the Kansas SAR Color Guard under Com- The Captain John Seward SAR chapter in Liberal is mander Bob Capps. Invocation: By Compatriot Brian making progress on recruiting and obtaining new mem- Vazquez. ber applications. Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Compatriot Joe Warne. Genealogy workshop held June 9 for Washington Pledge to the SAR: Led by Compatriot Richard Chapter, Haysville, KS. Cox. Officers Reports: Presented membership certificates to 2 new mem- President: By President David Comer. *Vice President: By Compatriot Bob Capps. bers at Ft. Scott, July 14. Compatriot Capps mentioned his attendance at the Morris Creek Bridge Color Guard event Genealogy workshop held July 28 Hutchinson, KS for the and the March SAR Leadership Conference.