Exchange Clubs are non-profit,non-sectarian, and non-political, and are known as “America’s Service Club.”
Their work is to make their surrounding community a better place to live and work through Youth Programs, Child Abuse Prevention, Americanism Projects, and Community Service.
In September 2021, a historic event took place in Fuquay-Varina. The Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club presented the Freedom Shrine to the Town of Fuquay-Varina, the town’s first Freedom Shrine ever. Dan Wakeley, President of the Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club, says, “We wanted to do something to honor those who chartered the club, and we felt this was a good way to do so.” Raising funds through pancake dinners and dry goods sales, the Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club purchased the Shrine from the National Exchange Club. What is the Freedom Shrine? Where did it come from? Why is it important? What does the Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club do in our community? I met with Dan, along with several of its members, to answer these questions.
The Freedom Shrine is a program of the National Exchange Club. It is one of their several programs to promote good citizenship and encourage a greater appreciation of American heritage among our nation’s young people. The Shrine is a collection of 30 precise photographic reproductions made from original American documents that have been preserved in the National Archives Library of Congress and the White House. These documents have been enshrined and displayed in thousands of cities across the USA. Now, thanks to the efforts and gift of the Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club, the Freedom Shrine, an awe-inspiring display of American history, has been brought to Fuquay-Varina and is permanently installed in the Fuquay-Varina Town Hall.
The purpose of the Freedom Shrine is to remind all Americans that our freedom is a gift from courageous men and women who preceded us; and Dan Wakeley and the Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club hope the Shrine will be used by schools in the area as a teaching tool and educational resource to enhance knowledge of our country’s history.
The documents displayed in the Freedom Shrine are significant in that they are the basis for forming our country, and they also mark turning points in American history of great consequence. Represented among these documents, for example, are Governor Bradford’s rough draft of the Mayflower Compact, the handwritten and ink-smeared Treaty of Paris 1783 in which Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States, The Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s own handwriting, The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote, Francis Scott Key’s handwritten The Star Spangled Banner, Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech, and John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address.
The Freedom Shrine had its beginnings in the historic journey of the Freedom Train, which toured the United States from September 1947 until January 1949 carrying a remarkable collection of documents on which our country was founded, documents on display for all Americans to see. The idea of a freedom train was birthed because of the increase of lawlessness in the United States after World War II, and the need to reawaken in the American people an appreciation for their heritage. The Freedom Train was privately sponsored and therefore called “the people’s train.”
During the Freedom Train’s journey, many of our country’s most historic documents and memorabilia were transported throughout the land in a special seven-car train to more than 300 communities in the then-48 states. Fifty of the nation’s railroads pledged their cooperation in conducting the train through every state in the union. A 2,000-horsepower diesel-electric locomotive was donated for the length of the tour by the American Locomotive Co. and the General Electric Co. along with three diesel and locomotive engineers. Three railroad cars converted to document-carrying exhibition units were contributed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Pullman Company loaned three “domicile” cars converted to meet the needs of the train’s personnel. The Freedom Train gave millions of Americans an opportunity to see these priceless documents for the first time.
After the Freedom Train journey ended in 1949, the National Exchange Club (the oldest service club in America, formed in 1914) decided to display these historical documents so that Americans could see them in their original form. Thus, the Freedom Shrine became an exclusive program of the National Exchange Club. Some of the original 30 Shrine documents have been since replaced in light of historic happenings in the growth and change in our nation since the Shrine’s inception. In 1986, the Exchange Committee added the entire U.S Constitution, replacing George Washington’s first page copy of the rough draft of The Constitution. In addition, Andrew Jackson’s letter describing the battle of New Orleans and Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence were replaced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” Speech and President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address. In 1996, an account of Susan B. Anthony’s trial and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech were added.
The Freedom Shrine is only one of the projects of the Exchange. The National Project of the Exchange Club is the prevention of child abuse. The Exchange provides materials designed to increase awareness and prevention of child abuse. These Projects are implemented through Exchange Clubs and Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers across the country. Through the Parent Aide Program home visitation model, child abuse prevention experts work directly with at-risk families, guide them in getting needed assistance, and continue to work with parents and children ongoing for a year.
Barbara Marchioni, Fuquay-Varina Exchange member and treasurer, adds an additional bit of interesting Exchange history. She relates that her father was one of the founding members of the Fuquay-Varina Exchange Club. Forty-seven years ago, it was a men’s organization, and although women could attend the meetings, they were not allowed to be members. It wasn’t until the early 70s that women were allowed, and she was one of the first. She notes that everything that is done by the Fuquay-Varina Exchange stays in the community and enhances the community. Some of their local projects have included donating stuffed animals to the police department for use when they go on domestic calls; raising money for the fire department for the purchase of equipment and for their education and training departments; installation of 500 flags in Wake County Exchange Club’s Field of Honor on the 4th of July dedicated to and in memory of service members, EMS and fire fighters; and a community food drive to support the Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry.
Fuquay-Varina Exchange President Dan Wakeley notes that the FV Exchange dedicates itself to this community. They are looking to expand club membership so that they could continue to expand community service. They meet the second and fourth Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Anna’s Pizza in Fuquay-Varina. To join, just show up, or e-mail Dan at Danexchange20@gmail.com and he will get back to you.
The Freedom Shrine will be on permanent display in the Town Hall located at 134 N. Main Street in Fuquay-Varina. It is free and open to the public any time the Town Hall is open.
