Happy Constitution Day!

In 1787, 220 years ago today, thirty-nine of our Founding Fathers signed the Constitution, which would go on to be ratified over the next three years by the people of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and, of course, New York.

Originally known as "Citizenship Day," September 17th was designated "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day" in 2004. Along with the name change, the 2004 law requires each school and college that receives rederal funds to teach about the Constitution on this day every year.

My favorite part of the Constitution is the preamble, which my seventh grade class was required to memorize and which I can still recite by heart ten years later. Feel free to sing along School House Rock style:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

For a local perspective on Constitution Day, check out the Democrat & Chronicle, the Journal News, and Newsday.