TRENTON – A new Charters of Freedom setting has been unveiled at the Jones County Civic Center, bringing replicas of the United States' founding documents to the local community. The installation, a project of the nonprofit Foundation Forward, Inc., features replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

The organization’s founders, Vance and Mary Jo Patterson, were inspired to bring these historic documents to communities nationwide after visiting the National Archives in Washington, D.C. “I will never forget the first time I saw the Declaration of Independence, something our Founding Fathers had actually penned, and then looked down and saw their signatures,” Vance Patterson said during the dedication ceremony. “I just got goosebumps.”

The Pattersons described their emotional reaction to seeing the original documents in Washington as the impetus for creating the Charters of Freedom monuments. “When we moved over and saw the first page of the Constitution and those three words, ‘We the People,’ I actually got a lump in my throat. Mary Jo was wiping tears out of her eyes,” Patterson said.

The Charters of Freedom settings are designed to provide communities with access to these foundational documents in a permanent, outdoor display. The replicas are built to last 300-500 years, according to Foundation Forward, Inc. The installation in Jones County is one of 62 settings gifted and dedicated by the organization across the country.

The process of bringing a Charters of Freedom setting to a community involves several steps, beginning with an initial inquiry and followed by the submission of a Letter of Intent. A local steering committee is then formed to coordinate the project, which is funded entirely through community support without the use of tax dollars. Once sufficient funds are raised, construction begins on the monument.

Jones County officials and community members attended the dedication ceremony, where local leaders expressed their support for the project. “Thank you to each of you for coming out today,” said Jones County Manager Kyle Smith, recognizing the presence of local veterans, active military, and community leaders.

The Pattersons hope that the monument will serve as a place for the community to gather and reflect on the principles that the founding documents represent. “Having your Charters of Freedom setting here in Jones County allows you a place to gather, to celebrate, to honor, and to reflect,” Patterson said.

The dedication ceremony concluded with a call to action from the Pattersons, encouraging the community to become engaged in preserving American history and civic education. “Are you ready to be a part of this?” Patterson asked the crowd. “Your future generations are going to know you were here.”

For more information about the Charters of Freedom settings and to learn how to support the project, visit foundationforward.com.