Happy Constitution Day! Or is that "Citizenship Day?" ...
On this date in 1787, the delegates at the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. Until 2004, today was known as "Citizenship Day." An amendment to a budget bill, sponsored by West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd changed the official name of the holiday to "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day." (Click here for more on the holiday from Wikipedia). More and more I'm seeing it abbreviated as just "Constitution Day."
I could delve here into the politics of naming a holiday, but I just don't have the constitution for it today. Instead, I would just like to offer a tip of the hat to the Founders for coming up with one of the greatest openings ever for a document establishing a new government: "We the people ..." As Abraham Lincoln would allude to many years later, it was evident from the outset that it was to be a government "of the people, by the people, for the people." Not a bad way at all to start the American experiment.
Happy Constitution (and Citizenship) Day!
UPDATE: John Kostouros over at the State Courts Information Office has kindly provided me with a helpful link to some highly educational information on the courts' website pertaining to Constitution Day (including lesson plans for teachers and parents). Click here for all you've ever wanted to know about Constitution Day, courtesy of your local judiciary.
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