[Repost of what input up this past Wednesday 09/17/2014 but deleted by mistake] HAPPY CONSTITUTION DAY! Today, all across the United States in schools, colleges, universities, and Federal Government offices, people are coming together to celebrate the formation of the U.S. Constitution, which was first signed in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The law establishing the present holiday was created in 2004 with the passage of an amendment by Senator Robert Byrd to the omnibus spending bill of 2004. Though among the shortest constitutions in the world, ours is among the longest lasting. By tradition, this is also the day on which we celebrate immigrants becoming United States Citizens (which is why this holiday used to be known as Citizenship Day). Especially considering how our Nation is built on the talents and abilities of immigrants from all across the world, including those who are ancestors to children who were born in the U.S., it is important for all of us to pause to reflect on our rich family heritage. This also represents an opportunity for us to congratulate those around us who have earned their way to U.S. citizenship through a long and arduous process, which often is the result of years of hard work and struggle. As I send you this message from the National Archives in Washington, DC, where the U.S. Constitution is housed, I enthusiastically call upon each of you to comment below, and share your own stories of immigration and citizenship. Share this post, and invite others to do the same. In addition, take advantage of two free apps that are available from the National Archives and Records Administration ** In celebration of Constitution Day, the National Archives Center for Legislative Archives today launched “Congress Creates The Bill Of Rights,” a free mobile app and eBook. These new free educational resources commemorate the First Congress and its role in the creation of this landmark document. The Center for Legislative Archives, which houses the official records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, created the app and eBook to mark the 225th anniversary of Congress’s historic achievement in proposing a set of amendments that would become the Bill of Rights. The Center also created lesson plans and teaching activities for teachers and students to use with the app and eBook. The app, eBook, andeducational resources are all available at: archives.gov/press/press-releases/2014/nr14-102.html ** “Today’s Document App” is an interactive gallery that allows you to explore the holdings of the U.S. National Archives through a collection of 365 fascinating documents and photographs from throughout history. Learn what significant event happened on your birthday, search the documents by keyword, or browse the collection at your leisure. archives.gov/social-media/todays-doc-app.html My own Mom and Dad themselves, Orlando and Lynda Cantos, are naturalized American Citizens, originally born and raised in the Philippines. I remain grateful to them each day for all that they have done to make my life what it is now. I learned from my earliest memories how to have a deep sense of patriotism and love for the United States of America. To my parents, I will stay forever grateful for paving the way for the richness of life that my sister Jennifer Cantos Duag and I feel blessed to enjoy as native-born American citizens. As we each look back on our own family history, seeing what those before us did to make our current lives possible, we may rightfully renew our dedication to doing the same for those to follow us. Accordingly, let us embrace Constitution Day and all that it represents. On the bedrock of this Constitution, we may live in a society as a Nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 23:55:17 +0000
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