The mayor of Lenoir, North Carolina, read a ceremonial proclamation at a holiday program at the Heritage Museum in Caldwell County declaring Dec. 15 as Bill of Rights Day and called on citizens to observe the date by studying the Constitution and engaging in civic discourse.

The proclamation was delivered during a mixed program of music and remarks attended by local musicians and visitors. Prior to the proclamation, an on-stage presenter reviewed the origins and ratification of the Bill of Rights, noting that the first 10 amendments were ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, and describing their enduring protections for speech, religion, assembly, due process and other rights.

"I, the mayor of the city of Lenoir, North Carolina, and on behalf of the Lenoir City Council and of all the citizens of Lenoir, do hereby proclaim December 15 as Bill of Rights Day in the city of Lenoir and call upon our citizens to observe this day by studying the constitution, engaging in civic discourse, and reaffirming our dedication to the rights and freedoms it secured," the mayor said during the reading.

The presenter who preceded the proclamation summarized key historical moments cited by the program, including the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the drafting work of James Madison in 1789, and the congressional approval and state ratification process that concluded on Dec. 15, 1791. The presenter said, "The Bill of Rights has built a foundation protecting our most cherished American freedoms," and noted that the program has become an annual practice at the museum.

Organizers framed the proclamation as ceremonial and educational rather than a change in local law. The program combined the civic observance with seasonal music and community remarks by local performers; speakers emphasized local musical heritage and community participation alongside the proclamation.

The city did not announce any new policy changes or directives accompanying the proclamation. The event's immediate next steps were to continue the program's scheduled musical performances; no council action or formal vote was recorded during the program.

The proclamation text and the presenter's remarks are part of an ongoing series of civic observances the organizers said they plan to continue in coming years.