This is an entry an entry I wrote for a writing contest…

If you got to assign a monthlong observance of any type, what would it be and why?

It has become evident over the past few years that much of America’s citizens are not familiar with one of the most important documents in the united States – the Constitution!

If I were going to create a new month of observance it would be a month to make Americans not only aware; but also, educated on the document that in many ways oversees their lives. 

Since Independence Day – the day the United States came to be and no longer a part of the British Empire – is July 4; then I would suggest that Constitution Month be in July.

In just a few short years America will celebrate its 250th anniversary as a country.  Back in 1776 when the country was created, the “Founding Fathers” worked to create a blueprint for the country that would expand and grow as the new country did.

The Constitution has grown quite a bit since it was first created; adding new rules to govern America as she expanded from 13 to 50 states. 

There is an episode of “Star Trek” title “Omega Glory” where the people on the planet saw the “Ib Planesta” as a sacred document that only Chiefs were allowed to see.  After seeing an old and tattered American flag, Captain Kirk figures out what the “sacred document” really was – a copy of the Constitution of the United States.  Portraying Captain Kirk, Canadian born actor William Shatner proceeds to tell those assembled that there are many such documents throughout the galaxy; but none are more important or have greater meaning than this one…the Constitution…and that it is not just for Chiefs, but for everyone!

That episode aired in 1969, but the sentiment is just as important today; but it is not being taught in schools today.

With the various social media platforms and hundreds of television and streaming channels, it would be easy today to help America’s citizens learn and understand about the Constitution of the United States with a month of observance and awareness.

There are 31 days in July, plenty of time to introduce each of the Articles in the Constitution.  Some are fairly simple to understand like the right for women to vote or the right to consume alcoholic beverages; but others are not so simple to fully understand.