CONSTITUTION DAY SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2011

On September 17, 1787, the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document that they had created. Constitutional Day is an American Federal observance that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution.

 In 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill that moved “I am an American Day” from the third Sunday in May to September 17 so that this holiday would coincide with the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Congress renamed the holiday “Citizenship Day.” A joint resolution passed in 1956 requested the President to proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 each year as “Constitution Week”.

Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) entered an amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 that changed the name of the September 17 holiday to “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day”. The purpose of “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens, while commemorating the creation and signing of the supreme law of our land.

 In May 2005, the United States Department of Education announced the enactment of this law and that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds for any kind.

 I encourage all Americans to observe this important day in our nation’s history by attending local events in your area. Celebrate Constitution Day through activities, learning, parades and demonstrations of our Love for the United States of America and the Blessings of Freedom Our Founding Fathers secured for us.