Several studies reveal that K-12 students, university students, and the public can be uninformed about American history, civics, and the Constitution, according to Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren.
Warren says America once had a vibrant civic calendar — Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Armistice Day – to renew the faith in the nation.
At a one-on-one lunch with his then 10-year-old daughter Leah, Warren says he explained the importance — and demise — of the civic calendar. According to his account, Leah took it to heart and vowed to do something about it. Warren says his daughter pounded on the table and demanded that he help her start a new celebration for the United States of America. Patriot Week was born. Warren says he and his daughter agreed that the celebration should be a week with key anchor dates. After some serious research, they selected September 11 (the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center) and September 17 (the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution – Constitution Day).
Since 2009, Patriot Week has caught fire across the nation, according to Warren. Bi-partisan Patriot Week resolutions and proclamations have been issued by more than 17 governors and state legislatures, and various counties and municipalities. In 2019 and 2020, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a Patriot Week resolution, co-sponsored by a Democrat (Senator Gary Peters) and Republican (Senator John Kennedy).
Each year in support of Patriot Week Warren organizes an annual Patrick Henry Awards Dinner, which draws hundreds of attendees, who can watch Leah re-enact Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” speech, hear from historical re-enactors, and recognize several Patriots of the Year honorees.
This year’s Patriot Week 9th Annual Patrick Henry Awards will take place Thursday, March 24, beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and awards at 6:30 p.m. at The San Marino Club, 1685 E. Big Beaver Rd. in Troy.
The highlights this year are the 2022 honorees: Hillsdale College, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra, and VETLIFE founder Joshua Parish.
Hillsdale College is a small, Christian, classical liberal arts college in southern Michigan that operates independently of government funding.
Zahra was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to the Michigan Supreme Court on January 14, 2011. He has served on many professional and legislative committees, including the Michigan Civil Jury Instructions Committee, the Circuit Court Appellate Rules Committee, the Domestic Violence Legislation Implementation Task Force, and the advisory committee for the Michigan Judicial Institute Domestic Violence Benchbook.
In 2021, Zahra was appointed chair of the Justice for All Commission, which is a diverse group of state leaders and access to justice advocates. The commission is working to substantially improve access to the civil justice system. Zahra also serves as the Supreme Court’s liaison to Michigan Business Courts, which currently operate within 17 circuit courts.
Zahra taught as a senior fellow of law and public policy at the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus, and is currently a distinguished fellow at Hillsdale College. He previously served on the adjunct faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and Michigan State University College of Law.
Zahra has been active in many civic and charitable organizations, including Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Kiwanis Club International, Leadership Detroit, the Knights of Columbus, the Maltese American Community Club, and the Maltese American Benevolent Society, of which he is a past officer.
VETLIFE founder Parish is an Iraq War veteran whose greatest passion is helping veterans when they transition into civilian life and giving them the best opportunity to be successful. VETLIFE is a nonprofit organization formed by veteran families for veteran families. The organization was born out of the families’ own struggles after leaving the military. The large number of veterans unaware of benefits and the rising number of veteran suicides incited the creation of VETLIFE, which provides veterans with a network of sustainable solutions and resources to improve the quality of civilian life.
Tickets to the 9th Annual Patrick Henry Awards Dinner on March 24 are $60. To register or to provide sponsorship, visit www.patriotweek.org.
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