Did you enjoy the special days in September?  You’re probably thinking that I spelled that wrong and meant special “day” – meaning Labor Day.  Actually, I was referring to Labor Day and the other day that is reserved for special observance in September.  You know, Sept. 17. Oh, you didn’t know that?  Neither did I.  You see, Sept. 17 is Constitution Day, so named because the Constitution was signed on that date in 1787.

The idea of celebrating the Constitution began right here in the great state of Iowa in 1911.  By 1948, the governors of all the states (48 at the time) had issued proclamations recognizing it.  In 1952, Congress recognized it and, in 2004, it was established as an American federal observance with a requirement that on that day of the year, school children be given instruction on the history of the American Constitution.

I wonder how many of us could pass a test given to our children or grandchildren about the Constitution?  Let’s be honest, how many of us have read even the first paragraph of the document since high school?  If you haven’t read it for a while, here it is: