User:Virtualikon/California bicentennial foundation for the US Consititution

California Bicentennial Foundation for the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights The Foundation was established by the California Bicentennial Commission on the U.S.Constitution and Bill of Rights in 1986 in order to develop programs and raise the funds and that would make California a leading state participant in the three year national commemoration of the U.S. Constitution bicentennial from 1987-1989. President Reagan and the U.S. Congress created the National Bicentennial of the Constitution Commission and appointed former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger as its Chairman.

The California State Legislature and Governor Deukmejian appointed the members of the California Commission who established the Foundation in 1986. Former international corporate lawyer Peter F Paul was appointed under the aegis of Governor Deukmejian as President of the Foundation in 1986. His innovative programs to bring public attention and interest to the commemoration resulted in commendations from the National Bicentennial Commission Chairman, Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and a George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania among others.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's achievement placing the first flag on the moon made him a symbolic spokesman for the Foundation's activities. He officiated over many public events including launching the foundation's Rock Across America project in which the 10 ton state stones from California, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona were picked up by a Teamsters sponsored motorcade and first delivered to the steps of the U.S. Capital Building in Washington, DC and then to Independence Hall National Mall in Philadelphia where the stones were stored for inclusion in the National Monument to the U.S. Constitution at Independence Hall Mall.

The Walt Disney Company co-created a costumed character, Bisontennial Ben, with foundation president Peter Paul which it donated to the Foundation as a tool to attract young people to the commemoration. Bisontennial Ben was "born" at Disneyland in 1987.

The foundation distributed more than 400,000 copies of the Constitution, and enlisted the mayors of 198 California communities to appoint committees to work with the Foundation, representing more than 96 per cent of the people of California making California the most active state in the Nation for the Bicentennial.

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