Constitution Day

By Erika Westbrook
West Virginia University at Parkersburg held ceremonies on Sept. 19 in the Multipurpose Room, in observance of the first Constitution Day, a national holiday that attempts to increase Constitutional knowledge to students.

Readers Theater, directed by theater instructor Carson Soelburg, began the day’s events with a performance of the Preamble of the Constitution. Following the presentation was a debate regarding the Patriot Act, conducted by speech instructor Barbara Harris. Audience members were given the chance to express their views.

Ron Atkinson, chair of Social Sciences, presented “The Uniqueness of the Constitution,” in which he spoke of exceptional facts about the “oldest functioning constitution.”

Recognition was then given to the local law enforcement and correctional officers that were visiting the campus. Members of the audience questioned the officers on national and local security against terrorists. Also during their visit, officers were given the chance to promote issues such as new child car-seat laws, domestic violence and the Lifesaver Program. Officers also supported the Criminal Justice Organization, which was selling bracelets to raise money to support law enforcement.

At 2:30 p.m., Readers Theater once again performed, followed by a presentation by professional storyteller Tim Dillinger, who closed the ceremonies with a presentation on aspects of the Constitution.

“We are the proudest country of all and have deserved that right,” stated Dillinger.

Constitution Day has been created in response to a law passed by Constitution buff Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) in December 2004 by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislation requires that all educational institutions that receive federal funds provide educational programs relating to the United States Constitution on Sept. 17 of each year. This date was chosen due to the fact that the delegations to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time on September 17, 1787, to sign the U.S. Constitution and presented it to the American public.

Byrd, who is known to carry a copy of the Constitution in his pocket, stated, “Some events define and shape history. . . moving the world into a new path. On September 17, 1787, just such an event occurred when the United States Constitution was signed.”