Celebrate Constitution Day at Eugene McDermott Library

Constitution Day at Eugene McDermott Library
Monday, September 18 at 12:00 pm (noon)

According to Library of Congress Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, and “recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens”. This commemoration had its origin in 1940, when Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing and requesting the President to issue annually a proclamation setting aside the third Sunday in May for the public recognition of all who had attained the status of American citizenship. The designation for this day was “I Am An American Day.”

In 1952 Congress repealed this joint resolution and passed a new law moving the date to September 17 to commemorate “the formation and signing, on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution of the United States.” The day was still designated as “Citizenship Day” and retained its original purpose of recognizing all those who had attained American citizenship. This law urged civil and educational authorities of states, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the State and locality in which they reside.”

Beginning at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Monday, September 18, drop by and pick up a Pocket Constitution gift bag at the Eugene McDermott Library Service Desks (2nd floor). Available while they last!