Some local citizens, educators, and business owners have become aware of the federal mandate which requires that schools and federal employers provide education programs about the Constitution on Constitution Day -September 17th of each year. Each passing year has brought more interest and involvement as citizens and educators recognize Constitution Day as an open window of opportunity to learn, teach about and celebrate our Constitution and the freedoms it protects for all of us as Americans. In some local schools and businesses, a poster has been put up with a profound quote: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free…It expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson. The Constitution was celebrated in an interfaith “Faith of our Fathers Event”, in at least three local schools, and also a citizen sponsored program at Weber High as well as along Washington Boulevard in North Ogden:
Bates Elementary
Bates Elementary kicked off their celebrations and education about the Constitution this year with what one parent in the audience called a fantastic assembly the Friday before Constitution Day. The assembly included what the same mother called a stirring flag ceremony with students bearing 50 flags, (one for each of the 50 states) and a video. The student council and their advisers, Christy Wagner and Kris Barker had worked very hard to put together the movie teaching how the Constitution came to be and what it contains. They hung art work and information in the hall, by the front office, with great visuals and teaching aids. Bates did a great job for their first year making Constitution Day a major focus. “We have a great love of country here at Bates. “, says Kitty Barney, Bates Elementary School Principal.
Green Acres Elementary
Students at Green Acres experienced some fun activities with some of the activities that were planned for Constitution Day. Each class visited a display in the main hall called the “Wall of Freedom.” It contains replicas of the original documents of freedom along with pictures and explanations.
Each grade was given a different list of questions based on their age. They searched the wall to find the answers. After answering the questions, students signed their name on a chart around the outside of a flag. After the whole class was finished, they added a star or stripe to the flag which qualified them for an invitation to a “Popping with Patriotism Party” where popcorn was served outside on the playground one student commented, “I wish it was Constitution Day every day.” Also on Constitution Day, the students were invited to wear red, white and blue. The school put on an assembly that began with a flag ceremony, and the pledge of allegiance led by Cub Scout pack 294. Next, was a skit put on by the student leaders to teach about the Constitution. Then, fifty students holding American flags and representing the 50 states stood on stage as the student body sang The Star Spangled Banner. Outside the school, thirteen flags representing the original thirteen colonies lined the sidewalk along with a banner reading “Happy Constitution Day” framed with red, white and blue balloons adding a festive touch. A parent who provided the Wall of Freedom display reports receiving many thanks from teachers and parents. The display was left up for over a month and the day it was being taken down, a faculty member who was walking by commented, “I wish we could leave it up all year. We have been reading and learning from it each day.”
Orion Jr. High
For the fourth successive year now, Orion Jr. High has welcomed volunteers from the community who offered to come and celebrate by learning about the Constitution with the students during their lunch hour on Constitution Day. The volunteers gave out candy, wished each student a Happy Constitution Day, and invited them to come and answer question(s) for prizes when they finished eating lunch. Hoards of students accepted the challenge, and the six volunteers were overwhelmed with the students’ level of interest and willingness to learn. The questions were open-book and the volunteers handed the students copies of the Constitution, and helped them find the answers if they needed help. There were also posters on the walls with illustrations that helped explain the different articles and amendments to the Constitution.
Flag Display on Washington Boulevard
Travelers along Washington Blvd in North Ogden commented that they were touched by the breathtaking experience as they took in several hundred flags, and several banners posted along the street, in front of businesses and residences, this Constitution Day. The support for the project was provided by a group of North Ogden citizens. Several local scout troops lent flags that were used this year in combination with the several hundred flags that have been put together by different Boy Scout Eagle Projects -specifically to be available for use each year for Constitution Day. The Liberty Banners with the words God, Freedom, Peace, Faith, Family, surrounding a liberty bell, were donated by the Kiwanis Club in support of an Eagle Project in 2010. Many businesses - this year - hung posters in their front windows during the week before and after Constitution Day. Among the messages on the posters were, “Constitution Day 225, Liberty and Justice for All, We the People, God Bless America, Happy Birthday United States Constitution, One Nation under God, and Land of the Free-Home of the Brave”. Funding for the posters was made possible by a donation from Pastor Duncan of the Valley View Baptist Church. Besides the posters in windows, several businesses also had patriotic statements on their marquees.
Early Morning Constitution Day Flag Ceremony Program held on Weber High’s Football Field
A program was held bright and early, before school hours, on Constitution Day. This program was geared mostly toward the high school students, but open to everyone. Though the event took place on Weber High’s Football Field, it was not sponsored by the school. The organizing committee for this event consisted of local citizens, students and parents. Students on the committee helped get the word out about the program by distributing red, white and blue bracelets containing the words of our National Motto “In God We Trust”. In preparation for the early morning program, a group of students and parents posted dozens of flags on the football field.
John Reynolds, a Kiwanis Club member, was the Master of Ceremonies. The program began with a prayer offered by a student, Kaitlin Capner. Music was provided by Weber High’s Chamber Choir, directed by Scott Wood, singing the National Anthem. Some Ben Lomond High students played bagpipes. Highlights of the program included a visit from “Liberty” the bald eagle, presented by Ogden Nature Center and funded by the family of Tyson Lund, a Weber High student who was very involved. Local veterans provided a 21 gun salute. Mr. Dave Hardman, President and CEO of the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the Constitution. A presentation was made by John Reynolds and Lindsay Farr, to honor World War II Veteran Bob Christofferson (see picture “Veteran Honored”). Lindsay Farr, a former Miss North Ogden and Weber High student, shared her love for freedom and some experiences that she had while living in China recently. The closing prayer was given by Zack Huntsman, another student on the planning committee.
