Each year on September 17th, the United States celebrates Constitution Day. While it may be one of the lesser-known or remembered holidays on the calendar, its importance is vital to our nation’s history. Let’s learn some fun facts about this day and the document it celebrates—the U.S. Constitution. 

Why September 17th?

In February of 1952, the members of the U.S. Congress officially designated September 17th as Citizenship Day. In 2004, Senator Robert Byrd advocated changing the name to Citizenship Day, and Congress passed the amendment. The reason for choosing September 17th was pretty straightforward— it is the same day that the U.S. Constitution was signed and put into effect in 1787. This date represents when people could now call themselves citizens in a new country, the United States of America.

Citizens and the Census

Because the Constitution gave individuals citizenship, a significant part of the constitution outlined how to go about counting those citizens. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution states that there must be a count of all U.S. citizens every ten years, known as the Census. The first Census took place in 1790 and counted almost 4 million U.S. citizens. The most recent Census took place in 2020 and counted over 328 million people!

Ways to Celebrate

Unlike federal holidays where banks, schools, and other public institutions close for the day, Constitution Day is considered an event, meaning it’s still an excellent opportunity to celebrate the U.S. Constitution and what it represents. In many schools, the day provides a chance to read the Constitution, which doesn’t take long as it is the shortest known Constitution at only 4,543 words. Teachers may also give their students a copy of the Constitution to refer to it as needed.

Additionally, it’s common to commemorate the Constitution on September 17th by placing an American flag outside your home or on your car. Some cities or states promote the day to show social involvement and sanitation by cleaning up their neighborhoods and feeling proud of our country’s history. 

For true die-hard Constitution fans, you could plan a trip to Washington D.C. on September 17th to view the original Constitution. It is on display in the National Archives Building, where it has been called home since 1952. The Constitution’s four pages are protected using helium-filled cases made from bulletproof glass and bronze. 

Preserving Your Own History with Headstones in Seattle, WA

Reflecting on protecting and honoring our nation’s history may have you thinking about your own preservation. For engraved monuments, granite benches, and granite headstones near me, look no further than Quiring Monuments. We specialize in preserving the memory of your loved ones with various granite colors for headstones, along with custom designs that can include photos, symbols, or graphics. We work closely with local businesses, including cemeteries such as Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.

Let Quiring help preserve your memory or that of a loved one so that it will never be forgotten—contact us today.