A Brief History of the Constitution

We have a federal holiday rapidly approaching us, but the question is, what holiday and how many citizens are aware of this holiday? Every single person I asked, myself included, was also not aware of this upcoming holiday.

The holiday I am referring to is Constitution Day, a recognized federal holiday celebrated on the 17th of September of each year. Constitution Day was first recognized in 1911 in schools in Iowa and promoted as a National Day of Recognition by the Sons of the American Revolution in 1917.

Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the United States Constitution by 39 brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing that all who are born in the United States or by naturalization have become citizens of a country destined to become the greatest nation on earth.

The Constitution of the United States serves as the basis for all U.S. laws and guarantees every American citizen the blessings of liberty and the blessings of freedom our Founding Fathers secured for us.

The Constitution of the United States is considered one of the most important components of the cultural heritage of the United States of America. We celebrate Constitution Day because that historic document, along with its later affixed Bill of Rights, is the legal means by which “We the People” ensure that the government serves its vital purposes without violating our rights. 

According to the law establishing September 17th as Constitution Day, it must be observed by all federally funded schools through educational material on the history of the American Constitution. 

It is baffling that a federal holiday commemorating an event in American history, so critical and vital to those who cherish a life of independence and freedom from government rule and tyranny, is not widely promoted and actively celebrated.

Given the times we find ourselves in, it becomes increasingly important that this day be recognized and celebrated by every American citizen of every ideology.