Today is one of those holidays that most people don't realize exists.
But 220 years ago, Sept. 17 became one of the most important days in the nation's history. Today is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, a holiday that marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
Thirty-nine men signed the document 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."
Among those to sign were George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton.
In 1940, Congress designated the third Sunday in May as "I am an American Day," according to Patriotism.org .
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In 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill designating Sept. 17 as Citizenship Day.
A few years ago, Congress and the U.S. Department of Education began requiring educational institutions that receive federal money to have a Constitution educational program for students on Sept. 17.
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
