Charters of Freedom workday scheduled for next Saturday

COLUMBUS—The Charters of Freedom project in Columbus is progressing quickly with a dedication ceremony scheduled for Sept. 17. 

A workday is also scheduled for next Saturday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. with volunteers needed for work such as raking and leveling dirt, cutting shrubs and placing mulch. 

Columbus Town Councilman Robert Williamson, who is volunteer for the project, said two loads of concrete frames and holders for each of the Charters documents were delivered and unloaded with assistance from the Columbus Fire Department and neighbors. The volunteers stacked 12 units weighing about 300 lbs. to be ready to install. 

A low retaining wall was also designed and is being constructed along the sidewalk to keep mud and dirt away from the pavers around the fountain, Williamson said. Statesville Brick Co. donated bricks for the project, Henson’s Lumber donated mortar cement and sand and the masonry labor is also being donated. 

Williamson said the top frames for the Charters of Freedom are scheduled to be installed on Tuesday, Aug. 13, with volunteers being recruited for the heavy lifting from the Columbus Fire Department, Polk County Maintenance staff and town of Columbus employees. 

The Charters of Freedom are being donated to the county by the Foundation Forward Inc. and are displays of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The county and Columbus decided to have them placed in Veterans Park, near downtown Columbus, after the location was recommended by the Polk County Appearance Commission.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at Veterans Park. 

“Thank you for your support, your assistance and for spreading the word about this awesome gift for our community, our residents, our visitors and more importantly, our students and educators,” Williamson told committee members this week.