Celebrate Freedom

September 17, 1787, James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and 35 other brave Americans met for the last time at Independence Hall to sign the U.S. Constitution, the document they had created in the hope of saving America from the brink. A mere 10 years after the Revolution, the American experiment was on the verge of collapse. Fortunately for us, the founders refused to give up, fully believing that a free people can govern themselves without the heavy hands of dictators or aristocrats.

While September 17 often comes and goes with little fanfare or notice, we at Montpelier know that Constitution Day matters and invite you to celebrate this important turning point in world history with us. Join us at the National Archives tomorrow for the State of the Constitution address and be with us at Montpelier on Saturday, September 21 for a family fun Constitution Day Celebration. Perhaps even more importantly, read the Constitution!

In creating our democratic republic, Madison and the other framers entrusted tremendous power to us, “we the people.” Power demands responsibility, and it is ours to be active citizens, maintaining checks and balances and passing on our liberties and rights to future generations.

Tomorrow is a day to consider what the Constitution means to you and what it means to be an American. We are the People. Celebrate freedom.