Jacksonville Beach marked the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution at Seawalk Pavilion on Thursday, Sept. 17. Speakers and audience members sat together under the pavilion instead of gathering on the lawn, a move to escape the Florida sun.

"It's the first time I've ever been to an event wholly held on the stage, and this is really cool, really creative," Jacksonville Beach Mayor Christine Hoffman said, as first reported by the Beach Gazette.

The free celebration began at 3 p.m. The city of Jacksonville Beach organized it with the Jean Ribault and Ponte Vedra chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, bringing together residents from all four beach communities, according to the city's event listing.

Dignitaries from four beach communities attend

Hoffman presided over the program and recognized dignitaries, including Kim Zeman, state regent of the Florida DAR; Cindy Addison, historian general of the national DAR; Atlantic Beach Commissioner Candice Kelly; and Neptune Beach Mayor Cori Bylund. She also thanked local chapter leaders and city staff.

The Fletcher High School band opened the afternoon with "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." Anne Brinsmade, a DAR chapter chaplain, led a prayer, and the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Keynote traces the Constitution's path to ratification

Zeman, who oversees 11,525 members across 104 Florida chapters, spoke about the document's place in American government. Addison delivered the keynote address, tracing the Constitution's path from the Articles of Confederation through ratification and noting that the organization petitioned for Constitution Week in 1955.

Bells mark the close of the 1787 convention

At 4 p.m., the program paused for one minute of bell ringing. The tradition recalls the moment church bells are believed to have sounded in Philadelphia at the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The city had invited local churches and attendees to take part.

Next up is Seawalk Sessions, a free monthly acoustic series on the Latham Plaza green, featuring local musician Perry Bechtle at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.