Woodward, Okla. — What for many years was known as Citizenship Day has become U.S. Constitution Day. It occurs on Sept. 17 each year, the anniversary of the signing of the constitution.

According to constitutionday.com, recognition of the day, and the associated week,  which concludes Sept. 23, is to emphasize the importance of the document and its role in American citizenship. The Constitution was ratified Sept. 17, 1787 in Philadelphia by the delegates to the Constitutional Conven-tion where they signed the document they created.

This year marks the 225th anniversary of the nation's founding document.



DAR LAUNCHED RECOGNITION

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

In 1955, the DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on Aug. 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the commemoration day are to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, as well as preserving it for posterity;  to remind the people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and to encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution back in 1787.

DAR LAUNCHED RECOGNITION

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

In 1955, the DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on Aug. 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the commemoration day are to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, as well as preserving it for posterity;  to remind the people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and to encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution back in 1787.



CONSTITUTION FACTS

Some interesting facts about the Constitution (from constitutionfacts.com), which was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Some of those 39 included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. Three of the 42 delegates did not sign, due in part to the lack of a Bill of Rights.

• A little over 4 years after it was adopted, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution or the Bill of Rights were ratified effective Dec. 15, 1791.

• It took one hundred days to actually “frame” the Constitution.

• George Washington and James Madison were the only presidents who signed the Constitution.

• The word “democracy” does not appear once in the Constitution.

• The Constitution contains 4,543 words, including the signatures and has 4 sheets, measuring 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches each. Without the amendments, it is one of the shortest written Constitutions of any major government in the world.  With the 27 amendments, it contains 7,591 words.

• Since 1952, the Constitution has been on display in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Currently, all 4 pages are displayed behind protective glass framed with titanium. To preserve the parchment’s quality, the cases contain argon gas and are kept at 67 degrees Fahrenheit.



LOCAL DISPLAYS AND ACTIVITIES

Under the law, all schools that receive federal funds must teach a course related to the constitution each Sept. 17.

This year, that will be on Sept. 18 for some schools, including Woodward, because there are no classes on Sept. 17 due to a professional day.

At Woodward High School on Tuesday, government teacher Jake Henderson said there will be some displays in the media center/library and a mock constitution for students to sign. It's part of Freedom week study that is done through individual classes.

Curriculum Director Sandy Johnson said all the schools in Woodward will be doing some activity concerning the Constitution.

"The activities will take place within the confines of the classrooms, as part of the teachers' lesson plans," she said.

Constitution Day and Constitution Week displays have also been set up for the public to view at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and the Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum.