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Personal Reflections, Naturalizations Honor Constitution and Citizenship Day

Two hundred and thirty years after it was signed, the United States Constitution remains a powerful source of inspiration, and of personal liberties. In a newly released U.S. Courts video, people from different walks of life tell how and why the nation’s founding document is important to them.

In a series of interviews, citizens, including some who were newly naturalized, reflect on what constitutional right is most important to them; what they value about America; and what role courts play in protecting individual rights.

The video is part of a month-long Judiciary celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. September 17, which this year falls on a Sunday, is the official anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in 1787. More than 45 naturalization ceremonies also are being conducted in the weeks surrounding that date, with most occurring on September 15 or 18.

This year, a focus of the observance is conducting naturalizations at participating schools, so that students can witness and take part in a living civics lesson. Federal judges will administer the Oath of Allegiance to new citizens at nine academic institutions–from elementary to high school, and from university through law school–at sites in Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio and Tennessee.

A number of other naturalization ceremonies will be held at iconic national sites, including Glacier National Park, in Montana; Congress Hall, Philadelphia; Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest retreat, Virginia; the Truman Library, Missouri; and the U.S. Air Force Academy,  Colorado; and the National Archives, in Washington, D.C.

The Judiciary is celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day along with other members of the Civics Renewal Network, a group of 29 nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations that seeks to create informed, engaged citizens. The network provides high-quality, free classroom resources for civics education.

The public can follow Judiciary Constitution Day and Citizenship day activities on Twitter, @uscourts.

Related Topics: Public Education