Matthews Intl. Creates Bronze Plaques for Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

Former Virginia Governor and U. S. Senator George Allen and former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine came to the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School on November 22 to discuss the importance of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and to dedicate bronze replicas of these documents, produced by Matthews Intl. (Pittsburgh), which will be displayed at the school. The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School was the first school in the U.S. to receive a set of these replicas.
The initiative behind the plaques traces back to the Constitutional Bicentennial Commission, created by President Ronald Reagan to celebrate the 200th-anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Matthews has been closely working with the American Constitution Spirit Foundation since 2009 on this project.
“Our meticulously crafted, full-size, cast-bronze reproductions of the United States constitution and Bills Of Rights are exact replicas of the original documents,” said John Simon, Matthews’ VP of sales and marketing. “The finest detail comes to life because of our unique and time-honored casting process, and gives these plaques the distinction and prestige that our nation’s most important documents deserve. Matthews is extraordinarily proud to be partnered with the Foundation and we are excited to be part of their nationwide historical educational process in our country’s schools,” Simon said.
Commission Chairman Chief Justice Warren Burger was charged with enhancing awareness throughout America about the Constitution. He and the President believed strongly that introducing American students to these documents was paramount to achieving that goal. To that end, in 1986, they commissioned an artist to create an original replica negative of each page of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Placing these original reproductions in schools and public buildings across America became one of the main missions for the Commission. While the Commission was unsuccessful with that goal 25 years ago, a Virginia based non-profit group, the American Constitution Spirit Foundation, has worked to bring the vision to reality.
This event inaugurated the 20th-year celebration of the Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, which moved to the Maggie L. Walker building from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2001.