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September 11th Remembered Reflections on Loss, Unity, and the World It Changed
A clear blue Tuesday morning became one of the darkest days in American history. On September 11, 2001, millions of people began the day with ordinary routines: school drop-offs, subway rides, coffee poured in break rooms, planes boarding for cross-country flights. Within hours, those routines gave way to smoke, sirens, phone calls, collapsing towers, and a grief that spread far beyond New York, Washington, D.C., and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Remembering Septemb

marie917society
Sep 118 min read


Constitution Day Is 17 Days Away: Your Complete Back-to-School Countdown Checklist
Seventeen days. That's how long you have between now and Constitution Day 2026 — September 17 — the first Constitution Day celebrated during America's 250th anniversary year. If you're an 8th-grade civics teacher, this is your moment. Here's exactly what todo between now and then. WEEK 1 (Now — September 7): Lay the Foundation Order your free pocket Constitutions. If you haven't already, this is your first and most important task. The 917 Society provides free 250th Anniversa

marie917society
Aug 312 min read


5 Ways to Introduce the Constitution on the First Day of School
The first day of school is the most important day of the year — and not because of your syllabus. It's important because it's the day students decide whether your class is worth caring about. For 8th-grade civics teachers, that first day is also your best chance to establish what your class is really about: the document that still governs 330 million Americans, over 235 years after it was written. Following are five ways to introduce the Constitution on Day One — without losi

marie917society
Aug 242 min read


Constitution Day Classroom Ideas That Work for Any Budget
Great civics teaching doesn't require a budget. It requires a Constitution and a classroom full of curious students. Here are twelve Constitution Day ideas organized by cost — from completely free to a modest splurge.

marie917society
Aug 172 min read


District-Wide Constitution Day Programs: How to Partner with the 917 Society
One classroom is great. An entire district is a movement. The most effective civics programs are coordinated, grade-wide, school-wide efforts that build a culture of constitutional literacy. The 917 Society is built to help you do exactly that.

marie917society
Aug 102 min read


Happy 4th of July
On this extraordinary Fourth of July, we're celebrating 250 years of freedom and the timeless document that protects it. This fall, the 917 Society will place our 250th Anniversary Edition pocket Constitution into the hands of 8th graders across all 50 states. Because the best way to honor America's birthday is to pass the torch. Happy Independence Day! #America250 #HappyFourthofJuly #ConstitutionDay #917Society #PocketConstitution #CivicEducation" Twitter/X: #Happy 250

marie917society
Jul 41 min read


Washington's Prayer Walk: Rededication in the Heart of New York City
On April 30, 2026 — the 237th anniversary of George Washington's first inauguration — The 917 Society gathered at St. Paul's Chapel in Lower Manhattan to retrace one of the most sacred steps in American history. Washington's Prayer Walk: Rededicate America 250 to God brought together patriots, educators, and civic leaders from across the country to walk in the footsteps of our first president — from Federal Hall to St. Paul's Chapel, the very place where Washington knelt in

Rich Washburn
May 111 min read


Rededicating America to God
On April 30th, 1789, George Washington walked from Federal Hall to St. Paul's Chapel and dedicated the newborn United States of America to God. On April 30th, 2026 — 237 years later to the day — we walked it again. What made this year's rededication walk extraordinary wasn't just the ceremony, the prayer, or the moment Rodgar led us in rededication at the same altar where Washington once knelt. It was the people who showed up. Patriots, history lovers, and friends of the 917

Rich Washburn
May 11 min read


Tax Day in America: Remembering Who Really Works for Whom
April 15, 2026, is Tax Day for most individual federal filers, which makes today more than a deadline. It is a civic moment. It is a reminder that taxation is not supposed to be an act of submission. In the American constitutional order, taxation is tied to representation, limited government, and the obligation of public officials to serve the people whose money they collect. The Constitution gives Congress the power to lay and collect taxes in order to pay the nation’s debts

Joni917
Apr 153 min read


“No Kings, No Clue: What Modern Protests Reveal About Civic Illiteracy”
As protests emerge across the country under slogans like “No Kings,” they reveal something deeper than political frustration. They expose a growing gap in civic understanding—specifically, a misunderstanding of what the United States actually is. America is not a monarchy. It never has been. And more importantly—it is not a pure democracy. It is a Constitutional Republic. That distinction matters more today than ever. What “No Kings” Gets Right—and Wrong At its core, the phra

Joni917
Mar 303 min read


From Oppression to Opportunity: Dr. Ming Wang’s Mission to Protect America’s Constitutional Future
At the heart of the The 917 Society mission is a simple but powerful goal: place pocket copies of the United States Constitution directly into the hands of America’s eighth-grade students. For Dr. Ming Wang, that mission is deeply personal. As president of the organization’s Founders Club and a longtime supporter of the effort, Dr. Wang brings a perspective shaped not only by his professional accomplishments, but by his life story as an immigrant who experienced life without

Rich Washburn
Mar 104 min read


One Night, One Cause, One Constitution
Last night was one of those evenings I will never forget. I am still overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on the 917 Society’s Fifth Annual Fundraiser at Ray Stevens’ CabaRay Showroom in Nashville. To everyone who attended, purchased tables and tickets, donated, participated in the auction, spoke, sang, served, and supported our mission, thank you. Truly, thank you. What an amazing night, and what an incredible reminder that there are still so many Americans who deeply lov

Rich Washburn
Mar 96 min read
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