Celebrate and Educate this Constitution Day
By Ed Meyer
By two acts of Congress, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day occur each year on Sept. 17.
It was on this day in 1787 when 39 signatures representing the original 13 colonies were affixed to the Constitution in Philadelphia. Its first three words read, “We the people,” and it established a new U.S. government which was designed – and exists today – to serve its citizens.
Constitution Day became law in 2004 and requires public schools and federal offices to provide educational programs which promote a better understanding of the Constitution.
Citizenship Day, originally created as a joint Congressional resolution in 1940 as “I Am an American Day” by President Franklin Roosevelt, was enacted in 1952 by President Harry Truman and is dedicated to promoting civic responsibility. It is also a reminder of the nation’s values.
Today, both celebrations are recognized as a single civic holiday.
There are several practical ways to celebrate these two days, and at the same time, educate yourself, your family and your friends.
I’ve put together a list of eight, no-cost celebratory ideas which you can perform alone or with a small group.
1. Watch the 11-minute YouTube video “The Constitutional Convention” by the National Constitution Center (NCC).
2. Read the entire Constitution itself or a subset of its preamble, articles and amendments.
3. Listen to the 75-minute “The Intellectual Inspirations Behind the Constitution” podcast.
4. Hear a 26-minute reading of the Constitution at jbs.org/constitution/.
5. Explore and review the “Putting the Bill of Rights to the Test” workbook from the National Archives.
6. Take a virtual road trip and visit the NCC’s Signers’ Hall exhibit.
7. Join the signers of the Constitution and add your name to this founding document at archives.gov/founding-docs/join-the-signers as if you were a delegate and attended the convention yourself.
8. Complete the NCC’s online 10-question quiz and test your convention delegates smarts.
The U.S. Constitution is the world’s longest surviving written charter of government. It established our nation’s representative form of government as implemented by its three distinct and separate branches of government, and it is easily the most influential document in American history.
Join many fellow countrymen this week to celebrate the Constitution’s 238th anniversary and learn a little more about its importance and why so many individuals around the globe want to become American citizens.
Ed Meyer owns and operates G2 Farm and Ranch in Wheatland and can be reached at ed.meyer@earthlink.net.
