Moberly Monitor-Index
Wed Sep 16, 2009, 02:22 PM CDT
Moberly, Mo. - Congress, since 1956, has authorized the designation of the week beginning September 17 of each year as “Constitution Week,” a time for study and observance of the acts that resulted in the formation of the Constitution. And since February 1952, Congress authorized the designation of September 17 of each year as “Citizenship Day” in commemoration of the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting. Only one item of business occupied the agenda that day, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America. No matter how much we argue about the details of its meaning today, in the opinion of many, the Constitution signed in Philadelphia on that day represents the greatest expression of statesmanship and compromise ever written. In just four hand-written pages, the Constitution gives us no less than the owners’ manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known.
The major objectives of “Citizenship Day” are to prepare young people coming of voting age and naturalized citizens to accept the responsibilities of citizenship and to acquaint them with the rights and privileges, the duties and obligations of citizenship.
Through the years, in many localities, the observance of Constitution Week has been an important and impressive part of Americanism programs. The Constitution is a living document, a basic charter protecting every American, which has, since its adoption, served as the beacon light of free men. It is to the maintenance of its principles of sound government that The American Legion is constantly alert. Foes of our form of government, foes of liberty within and without our country around the world are continuously making insidious attacks on the fundamental principles embodied in the Constitution.
Today there are groups, and even governments, which are denying the unalienable rights of men and are advocating the imposition of their ideologies by force and violence on democrat governments and free peoples. The preservation of the American system of government demands the vigorous support of all citizens. The guarantees of liberty, evolved from history and the experience of people, will continue to be maintained only by active vigilance of the people.
The American Legion holds the deepest respect for every fundamental principle expressed in the Constitution. It is our responsibility to instill these basic American concepts in the minds and hearts of the youth of this nation and to reeducate our citizens concerning the Constitution. Our annual High School Oratorical Contest goes a long way in doing this.
Every Legionnaire, and each American citizen, is challenged to join in building better citizenship in our communities through an increased interest in the Constitution of the United States. Every community in our nation should observe Citizenship Day, September 17, and where possible extend their observance into Constitution Week in order that more people may be impressed to rededicate themselves to the fundamental precepts of liberty and freedom under constitutional law.
For more information or copies of the Constitution of the United States or the Declaration of Independence you may contact your local American Legion Post and they will secure it for you.
Another event occurred on September 17 that does not need to be celebrated but perhaps should be remembered. On all the days on all the battlefields where American soldiers have fought, the most terrible by almost any measure was September 17, 1862. The battle that day close to Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg in western Maryland took a human toll never exceeded on any other single day in our nation’s history. Over 23,000 men were killed, wounded or missing in action. So intense and sustained was the violence, a man recalled, that for a moment in his mind’s eye the very landscape around him turned red. A terrible price to pay for freedom.
This information and our wish for your continued freedom has been presented by The American Legion in conjunction with your local American Legion Post.
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting. Only one item of business occupied the agenda that day, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America. No matter how much we argue about the details of its meaning today, in the opinion of many, the Constitution signed in Philadelphia on that day represents the greatest expression of statesmanship and compromise ever written. In just four hand-written pages, the Constitution gives us no less than the owners’ manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known.
The major objectives of “Citizenship Day” are to prepare young people coming of voting age and naturalized citizens to accept the responsibilities of citizenship and to acquaint them with the rights and privileges, the duties and obligations of citizenship.
Through the years, in many localities, the observance of Constitution Week has been an important and impressive part of Americanism programs. The Constitution is a living document, a basic charter protecting every American, which has, since its adoption, served as the beacon light of free men. It is to the maintenance of its principles of sound government that The American Legion is constantly alert. Foes of our form of government, foes of liberty within and without our country around the world are continuously making insidious attacks on the fundamental principles embodied in the Constitution.
Today there are groups, and even governments, which are denying the unalienable rights of men and are advocating the imposition of their ideologies by force and violence on democrat governments and free peoples. The preservation of the American system of government demands the vigorous support of all citizens. The guarantees of liberty, evolved from history and the experience of people, will continue to be maintained only by active vigilance of the people.
The American Legion holds the deepest respect for every fundamental principle expressed in the Constitution. It is our responsibility to instill these basic American concepts in the minds and hearts of the youth of this nation and to reeducate our citizens concerning the Constitution. Our annual High School Oratorical Contest goes a long way in doing this.
Every Legionnaire, and each American citizen, is challenged to join in building better citizenship in our communities through an increased interest in the Constitution of the United States. Every community in our nation should observe Citizenship Day, September 17, and where possible extend their observance into Constitution Week in order that more people may be impressed to rededicate themselves to the fundamental precepts of liberty and freedom under constitutional law.
For more information or copies of the Constitution of the United States or the Declaration of Independence you may contact your local American Legion Post and they will secure it for you.
Another event occurred on September 17 that does not need to be celebrated but perhaps should be remembered. On all the days on all the battlefields where American soldiers have fought, the most terrible by almost any measure was September 17, 1862. The battle that day close to Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg in western Maryland took a human toll never exceeded on any other single day in our nation’s history. Over 23,000 men were killed, wounded or missing in action. So intense and sustained was the violence, a man recalled, that for a moment in his mind’s eye the very landscape around him turned red. A terrible price to pay for freedom.
This information and our wish for your continued freedom has been presented by The American Legion in conjunction with your local American Legion Post.
This story I read made me think
that to reach independence takes a lot of blood shed.
Why?
Yours Truly
Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment