My relationship with the Constitution goes way back – from early childhood, actually. That is because my family emigrated from Cuba after Fidel Castro took power.
Like so many millions of others, my family fled a communist regime to come to the land of freedom. My family and I lived in Virginia for several years where I had the chance to visit Colonial Williamsburg many times. There, I learned about our Founding Fathers and the struggle for independence. So, after turning 18, I decided to become a naturalized citizen. Like all the others before me, I learned about our representative republic form of government, and I studied for the naturalization test.
Knowing the stifling government my family left behind and the freedoms that we enjoy here, I struggle to understand why we have a population that does not love the Constitution and our Republic. Maybe it is because they do not know much about our government and the rights they have.
At least once a year we have the opportunity to change that. Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by 39 brave men on Sept. 17, 1787.
Constitution Day became an official holiday alongside Citizenship Day in 2004. In May 2005, the United States Department of Education backed the law when it announced that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds of any kind. The Indiana Supreme Court began offering Constitution Day programming in 2005 with a wide variety of activities inside courtrooms and classrooms around the state.
This year there is an additional opportunity to commemorate Constitution Day in Hamilton County. The Hamilton East Public Library of Fishers will hold a free event to celebrate Constitution Day. There will be an actor portraying James Madison, an exhibit by Remnant Trust Exhibit, a public educational foundation, and Constitution-themed prizes. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18. Registration is required at tinyurl.com/HEPLconstitutionday2023.
Even if you can’t attend the Sept. 18 event, there is still time for us to call the principals and superintendents of schools to ask what activities they are planning for their students. We can also ask our children and grandchildren how their schools celebrated Constitution and Citizenship Day. I have been told that Noblesville schools will have some form of activity in each grade during their social studies classes.