Constitution Week is the commemoration of America’s most important document. It is celebrated annually during the week of Sept. 17 to 23 to commemorate Sept. 27, 1787, the date on which the Constitution was signed in convention. (It was ratified on June 21, 1788.)
This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1955, when the DAR petitioned Congress to set aside Sept. 17 to 23 annually to be dedicated to the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was adopted by the U. S. Congress and signed into law on Aug. 2, 1956. by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
More a concise statement of national principles than a detailed plan of governmental operation, the Constitution has evolved through Amendments to meet the changing needs of a modern society profoundly different from the 18th-century world in which our forefathers lived. To date, the Constitution has been amended 27 times, most recently in 1992. The first ten amendments constitute the Bill of Rights.
Constitution Week is a great time to learn more about this important document and celebrate the freedoms it gives us. Not only is America a beautiful country with a rich heritage, it is a country where democracy works and we can live in freedom, peace and security. Let’s all make a personal commitment to honor our country and its Constitution.
Joanne McCoy
Bayfield
