PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s the supreme law of the land.
“We the People of the United States.” The U.S. Constitution, signed here in Philadelphia, 234 years ago on Friday.
To celebrate, the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall hosted online and on-site programming for Constitution Day, marking a day that set American government into motion.
“July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is voted on, and then flash forward," said National Constitution Center Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner.
"After the revolutionary war is over, we’re not doing so great under the Articles of Confederation, so [leaders] come to Philadelphia and they write a new government. That’s the Constitution, and it was signed on September 17, 1787."
A kids' town hall, featuring actors portraying historic figures, was among the events to mark the document's 234th birthday.
"James Madison" joined on Zoom from Virginia, while people representing Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and Frances Watkins Harper appeared on stage. Watkins Harper was an American abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher and writer, one of the first African-American women to be published in the United States.
Marlen Flores, who is in the 8th grade at George W. Nebinger School in Queen Village, was inspired. She ways to be a writer one day.
“Not a lot of people go through what she went through," Flores said.
"What she did was a major accomplishment, so it just shows a lot to other people, mostly women, that you can do whatever you want.“
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