Constitution Day Special EventW3C Inaugural Year September 17, 2025 through September 23, 2025 We will attempt to operate as many bands and modes as possible, during Constitution Week. With 4 stations commemorating our defining document; W3C, W0C, W4C. and W8C This year is the 238th Anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution! We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. After four months of debate and deliberations, 39 visionary men of the Constitutional Congress signed our defining document, The U.S. Constitution. This occurred on September 17,1787 at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (which is now called Independence Hall). George Washington presided over the convention and the final, compelling speech, with a plea to sign the constitution, was written by Benjamin Franklin, but read by James Wilson, due to Franklin's poor health. After concluding their business, McHenry noted, “A lady asked Dr. Franklin, ‘Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy?’ A republic, replied the Doctor, if you can keep it.” The U.S. Constitution lays out the framework of our nation's federal government and delineates how its 3 branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function. In the years following, our Constitution has had 27 amendments added. The first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights, were written by George Mason to limit the Federal Government's power and protect our individual liberties. The Bill of Rights were ratified by the States on December 15, 1791. The national celebration of Constitution Day traces back to 1940, when Congress passed a resolution authorizing the President to issue an annual proclamation designating the third Sunday in May for the recognition, observance, and commemoration of American citizenship. The resolution originally specified the day to be called “Citizenship Day,” but the conference committee changed the name to “I Am An American Day.” On February 29, 1952, by joint resolution (36 U.S.C. 106) The United States Congress renamed the day and moved it to September 17, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in 1787. This begins Constitution Week which runs from September 17th through September 23rd every year. During the Constitution’s bicentennial celebrations in 1987, attempts to make it a legal, paid federal holiday failed. The modern Constitution Day came into being in 2004 when Senator Robert Byrd sponsored legislation designating September 17 as Constitution Day. It went into effect in 2005. Senator Robert C. Byrd spoke at the Senate's inaugural Constitution Day event in 2005. "This Constitution is the foundation upon which each stone of our governmental structure is laid, it is our bedrock." Senator Robert C. Byrd QSL cards available: For W3C, W0C, W4C and W8C from the address below. Send a SASE for US requests or $2 for DX to the address below. Include a second ounce stamp and receive a copy of our Constitution, courtesy of Hillsdale College. While supplies last. Jeff Widen K6QCB 7548 Ramona Ave Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 USA
