Officials in Marion County marked the 100-year anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with the planting of a Julia Child rose on the courthouse square. Passed by Congress June 4, 1919 and ratified on Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote.
As part of the Yellow Rose Project, a yellow rose, along with a plaque, given by the Division of Arkansas Heritage, was placed on the southeast corner of the square.
Attending the July 1 ceremony were a number of local officials, including State Representative Jack Fortner, County and Circuit Clerk Dawn Moffet, Assessor Tonya Eppes, Justice of the Peace, District 3, Talon Vancuren and Justice of the Peace, District 8, Claudia Brigham.
Rep. Fortner noted some of his most thoughtful and thought-provoking comments he receives from his constituents are from women. Clerk Moffet spoke about the importance of the 19th amendment to women not only receiving the right to vote but running for political office. Hattie Caraway became the first female elected to the U. S. Senate, and she was from Arkansas. Moffet stated, “Women such as Sen. Caraway paved the way for women like me to run for office.”
Justice Brigham spoke about her grandmother being one of the first females to vote in Marion County. Assessor Eppes expressed her thanks to all those women who came before her to fight for the right to vote.
Others in attendance were Karen Carter, County Judge’s Office; Pam Fortner, wife of State Rep. Fortner; Stacey St. Clair Merriman, grant coordinator; Carla Faison, veteran services officer; Susann Crespino, human resources; Suzy McVay, county library; Brian See, county extension staff chair; Jamie Hardin, juvenile services intake/probation officer, juvenile services; and Gail Carpenter, juvenile services administrative assistant.
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