Restoring Freedom—One Pocket Constitution at a Time
- Rich Washburn
- Oct 21
- 3 min read
At the Moms for Liberty National Summit, amidst a sea of dedicated patriots—mothers, grandmothers, fathers, and freedom-loving Americans—Joni Bryan, founder of the 917 Society, delivered a heartfelt message that resonated with both urgency and hope.
It began with a confession.
“I had never read the Constitution. Not really, not word for word.”
That moment of raw honesty revealed a truth many Americans share but are afraid to admit. For too long, the Constitution—our national cornerstone—has been reduced to a distant relic. We assume its protection without understanding its power. We assume our children will grow into free citizens without first being formed by its principles.
But as Joni recounted, one simple challenge—a lawyer putting a pocket Constitution in her hand and asking, “When is the last time you read this?”—sparked a fire that would ignite a national movement.
That spark became the 917 Society, named for September 17th, Constitution Day—a federally mandated but widely overlooked occasion that calls us to remember, teach, and celebrate the foundation of our Republic.
A Powerful Partnership: 917 Society & Moms for Liberty
This Constitution Day, 72 chapters of Moms for Liberty joined hands with the 917 Society to distribute nearly 200,000 pocket Constitutions to 8th-grade students across the nation. These weren’t just pamphlets—they were powerful tools. They were declarations. They were torches passed to the next generation.
As Joni reminded the crowd:
“When a child reads their rights for the first time… something shifts.”
Indeed it does. At a time when our nation teeters between cultural amnesia and ideological extremism, these moments of Constitutional clarity are revolutionary. Knowledge is the first line of defense for liberty.
Eyes on 2026: A Historic Challenge
In 2026, America will celebrate 250 years of independence—a rare milestone in the life of any nation. And the 917 Society isn’t shrinking back. Its mission is bold, urgent, and worthy:
Distribute 2.5 million pocket Constitutions across the United States.
Let that sink in. 2.5 million students, introduced to the principles that make America exceptional—not because we are perfect, but because we are founded on timeless truths:
Natural rights.
Limited government.
Consent of the governed.
Individual liberty.
This is not just about paper and ink. It's about planting seeds of freedom in the hearts of America’s youth—before the weeds of revisionist history and ideological indoctrination can take root.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
John Adams once said, “Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.”
Thomas Jefferson warned, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free… it expects what never was and never will be.”
If we allow this generation to grow up untethered from our founding documents, we risk losing not just knowledge—but the very spirit of liberty that defines America.
But here’s the good news: We still have time. And thanks to the work of the 917 Society and grassroots leaders like the women of Moms for Liberty, the tide is turning.
Get Involved: Be Part of the 250th Legacy
The new 250th Anniversary Pocket Constitutions will begin printing in April. Chapters and citizens alike can begin ordering in January 2026 at 917Society.org.
Visit the site. Partner with your local school. Donate. Volunteer. Do something—because liberty is not self-sustaining.
As Joni closed her speech with passion and conviction:
“Let’s educate. Let’s empower. Let’s preserve liberty—one student, one Constitution at a time.”
Let’s rise to the occasion. Let’s meet the 250th anniversary of our Republic not with apathy, but with action. Because America’s future depends not on what government does—but on what we teach the next generation to value.
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