Constitution Day --By: Stanley L. Klos
The Most Important
Date in
U.S.
History
By:
Stanley
L. Klos
For
several years, I have been working with the
Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University in
conjunction with Senator Robert C. Byrd’s office developing a curriculum
supplement on the United States Constitution of 1787.
The project was completed
earlier this year and entitled
Foundations of
Freedom™.
In this curriculum, students study fundamental issues arising from the 218 year
history of the
U.S.
Constitution. “The DVD uses case studies to immerse learners in various
constitutional challenges and themes. Through multimedia, learners tackle such
fundamental issues as popular sovereignty, freedom of speech, and judicial
review.”
W H Y ?
This
legal document, executed on
September 17, 1787
rescued the Perpetual
Union
of the United States
from the brink of collapse under its first constitution, The
Articles of
Confederation. Additionally, these words have and still remain the
foundation of all
U.S.
law thereby ensuring Freedom and the existence of the Perpetual
Union
of
United States of
America
for 218 years.
Foundations of
Freedom™ is part
of an initiative of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, who I opposed for the U.S.
Senate in 1994 as the
Republican Nominee, to restore history to its rightful place in
America’s
schools. In conjunction with this program federal legislation was passed
notifying:
“Each
educational
institution receiving Federal funds from the
U.S.
Department of Education that a new statutory requirement for implementation of
an educational program pertaining to the
United
States
Constitution, on a date designated by statute.”
Specifically the Congressional initiative
states in Section 111(b):
“[e]ach educational institution that
receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on
the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students
served by the educational institution.'' For purposes of the Department's
implementation of this requirement, ``educational institutions'' includes but
is not limited to ``local educational agencies'' and ``institutions of higher
education'' receiving Federal funding from the Department.”
Section 111 also requires that:
“Constitution Day be held on September
17 of each year, commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the
Constitution. However, when September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following
week.”
I am most honored that Wheeling Jesuit
University and The Center for Educational Technologies, who created the
Foundations of
Freedom™ curriculum,
have invited me to Keynote the first U.S. Constitution Day Celebration on
September 15, 2005 as prescribed by an Act of Congress.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Robert C. Byrd and many supporting patriots,
September 17, 1787 is now officially U.S. Constitution Day. The celebration of
the U.S. Constitution will begin first at Educational Institutions throughout
the United States; but eventually its wisdom will touch the hearts and minds of
all Americans. The end result will be a yearly celebration of what most
historians agree to be the most monumental moment and significant date in U.S.
History.
U.S.
Constitution Day Celebration
September 15, 2005
Activities Planned for
Constitution Celebration
Constitution
Day, set for Thursday, Sept. 15, celebrates the anniversary of the
Constitution's signing in 1787.
Due
to an overwhelming response from area schools, all Constitution Day activities
will take place at the
McDonough
Center.
Doors will open at
9:30 a.m.
with a film, "The Constitution Touches. Each of Us Personally." Rev.
Joseph R. Hacala, S.J. and Davitt McAteer will offer the welcome and
introductory remarks at
9:50.
The
morning activities kick off at 10 a.m. at the NTTC Auditorium, where keynote
speaker Stanley L. Klos, renowned historian and
author, will share his historical documents exhibit with the audience as part of
his presentation "President Who? The Forgotten
Constitution." The Klos Family Historic Constitutional Exhibit,
privately owned by Marie and Stanley Klos, will be open to all attendees. The
highlights include the
First Public Printing of
the U.S. Constitution of 1787, Virginia Signer
George Washington autographed letter,
Virginia Signer John Blair autographed 1774 Virginia Currency, and Virginia
Signer James Madison letter signed.
Gerry Reilly, director of West Virginia Independence Hall, will present "Is
West Virginia Really a State: The Constitutionality of the West Virginia
Statehood Process" at 10:30, followed by a scholar's panel discussion at
11:15 on how to re-engage students in the study of American history and the
Constitution. Patrick Cassidy, Esq., will serve as moderator, and the panel
will include Dr. Ray Smock, John P. Bailey, Esq., Dr. Jill Kriesky, Dr. Joseph
Laker and
Regina
Scotchie.
The
afternoon events and children's activities kick off at
12:15 p.m.,
when volunteers will read segments of the
U.S.
Constitution.
Guests also can sign a virtual Constitution replica, meet President Lincoln,
President
Washington, Chief Justice Marshall and other "living historians." At
1:45 p.m.,
Dr. Ray Smock of the
Byrd
Center
for Legislative Studies will present "Real American Idols-The Making of the
National
Constitution
Center's
Signers' Hall Exhibit."
Rev. Brian O'Donnell, S.J., Ph.D., will wrap up the day's events with a
presentation entitled "18th Century
Appalachia
and the Constitution”
Exhibits and other displays associated with Constitution Day will be housed in
the lobby of the
McDonough
Center.
Hot dogs and beverages will be available from
11 a.m.
to
2 p.m.