Constitution Week begins Wednesday

Maureen Michael of Decorah displays posters for Constitution Week promotions

Wednesday is the beginning of Constitution Week, marking the 227th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States.

Members of Northeast Iowa's Hannah Lee Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution are urging the public to read the document this week to get a better understanding of what is in it--and what is NOT in it.

For instance, the only place in the Constitution that contains the word "Lord" or any reference to "God" is where the date is written: "Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven" Did you know that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" and "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" are not in the Constitution, but both are in the Declaration of Independence? And lastly, this quote, "Of the people, by the people, for the people" is neither in the Constitution nor the Declaration, but comes from the Gettysburg Address.