SMU celebrates Constitution Day (Photo by Austin Kilgore, The Daily Campus)

Students gathered in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center commons Wednesday afternoon for the federally-mandated celebration of Constitution and Citizenship Day.

Constitution Day has actually been designated as Sept. 17, the date that the Constitution was signed in 1787, but that date fell on a Saturday this year.

At the event, American flag pins were handed out to students, as well as copies of the Preamble to the Constitution, which gave a little bit of information on the history of the document.

The colors were presented by the Dallas chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The men were dressed in Revolutionary-style clothing, were armed with antique muskets and carried three flags, all representing early American history.

The Grand Union, or Continental flag, was used by George Washington to recruit men to fight in the American Revolution. In an effort to avoid offending the king, Washington incorporated the British flag with the ever-familiar 13 stripes. The second flag features a snake and the words “Don’t tread on me” and is still flown on Navy ships to this day during times of war. Approved by Congress in 1777, the final flag most closely resembles our current one, minus a few stars.

Student Body President Liz Healy led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

University President Dr. R. Gerald Turner then made some remarks about the importance of the Constitution and the need for a day to reflect on its value. He credited Senator Robert Byrd for his proposal of the holiday and said that this was “an opportunity to affirm the basis of our free society.”

In regards to the John Roberts nomination, he pointed out that much of the scrutiny surrounds the way in which he will interpret the Constitution. He said that the fact that we can argue about this document is “one of the great achievements of our society.”

After Turner concluded his remarks, cake with the words “we the people” written in icing was served.

Tom Smith, a member of the Dallas Sons of the American Revolution, explained the importance of those words. He said that this Constitution was unique, and the language lets us know that it “was not thrust down by the people on the ruling class.”

Despite careful planning and the stressed importance of the document, only an estimated 30 students were witness to the inaugural celebration of this holiday at SMU.