Constitution signing is a ‘Day to Remember’
Campus and community combined to commemorate the Constitution last week in a series of events.
Scott Bradley, founder of the Constitution Commemoration Foundation, said 11 years ago he felt people were not paying enough attention to the day the United States Constitution was signed.
“I came to this community and I wanted to give them a gift,” he said. “This celebration is it.”
He realized everyone celebrated July 4, because it was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, but nobody remembered Sept. 17, he said.
Sept. 17 at 2 p.m., the exact time the Constitution was signed, a formation of F-16 jets from Hill Air Force Base was scheduled to fly. Because of adverse weather, the jet fly-over was canceled. The Cache Valley Boy Scouts fired a gun salute and Utah State University ROTC held flag ceremonies on campus.
Saturday, Sept. 21 an all-volunteer cast and crew presented “A Day to Remember,” a musical pageant by Bradley that covers important dates in American history, from Columbus to the Constitution.
The pageant’s message was one of the patriotism and faith in God early Americans possessed. The audience was called to remember sacrifices made so they could be free. The Logan Institute Choir provided musical numbers for the pageant.
“The interest in this commemoration is gratifying,” Bradley said. “In recent years, people have traveled from great distances to attend. Some have journeyed from international locations to be a part of the celebration.”
Molly Ann Backer, a member of the choir, saw the pageant last year and decided to sign up this year.
“I wanted to be part of it,” she said. “I feel I was an instrument in God’s hands to help people remember what a great country we live in.”
Dan Lind, another choir member, said participating in the pageant increased his understanding and love for America and God’s roll in the making of its founding principles.
“I love my country, and I know that without God we would not be America,” he said.
Jim Belliston, who played the part of Thomas Paine in the pageant, said people have forgotten the message and don’t understand what the Constitution is.
“Understanding the Constitution makes a difference in how you view the government and its responsibility to you,” he said.
Other commemorative activities included a Sept. 15 public address by Elder Lance B. Wickman, member of the First Quorum of the Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The winner of a youth speech contest also presented a patriotic speech.
Bradley said, “We are very fortunate to have wonderful people who are willing to donate their time and talent to the community to help commemorate this critically important event in our history. We are trying to keep the spirit of the Constitution alive in the hearts of the people and the nation, that the blessings of liberty may be enjoyed by ourselves and our posterity.”
-kassrobison@cc.usu.edu agriculture