Happy Constitution Day from Great Hearts

Today, we celebrate Constitution Day to commemorate the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution. On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created.

The U.S. Constitution and its preamble are just a sample of the many important historical documents that our scholars will study during their education at a Great Hearts academy. The preamble is arguably the most recognized part that sets the stage for the Constitution. It clearly communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.”

Great Hearts Institute encourages you to observe this important day in our nation’s history by attending the Inaugural Great Hearts Constitution Day Address on Wednesday, September 18^th, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the Lund Center at Veritas Prep. This is a free event designed to deepen our understanding of this historic document and its continued impact on our lives.

The Great Hearts Institute has invited Andrew Porwancher from Arizona State University (ASU) has been invited to deliver the address, titled “The Constitution: Hidden Truths and Enduring Myths.” Carol McNamara, Director of the Great Hearts Institute, said, “Professor Porwancher will help us more fully understand how the historical record of the framers’ debates about the Constitution’s provisions continues to inform and shape our own debates about the way of life the Constitution created for us in the United States today.”

“I’m excited to deliver the [address] because Great Hearts is a community that is passionate about the values that have animated our Constitution for more than two centuries,” explained Porwancher. “I’ve been privileged to work with so many Great Hearts alumni and teachers at ASU who share my enthusiasm for the American founding.”

Porwancher stressed the importance of events like the Great Hearts Constitution Day Address. “They remind us that our eighteenth-century founding is not some remote event preserved in amber. The Constitution that the delegates drafted in the summer of 1787 continues to govern our lives and liberty today. Perhaps in no other sphere of American life does history confront us with such urgency,” he said.

This address, generously supported by the Jack Miller Center, is open to the public and free of charge. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with the historical conversations that continue to shape our nation’s future. And as an added bonus to guests who attend, the Jack Miller Center is also supplying a FREE Pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence to the first 100 attendees.

There will be a hosted reception following the address with light snacks and beverages. Families and individuals interested in attending the event are strongly encouraged to register for the event so the proper accommodations can be prepared ahead of time.

We hope to see everyone in person, but if you are not in the Phoenix area or if you are unable to make it to the event, you can still watch the live stream of the event at https://youtube.com/live/Qma_7b11TNI?feature=share.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.