Public Invited to Join in Reading the Constitution on Sept. 17

On September 17, 2026 – Constitution Day – citizens and students across Washington County will be reading, signing, and celebrating the U.S. Constitution. At noon that day on the steps of the Courthouse citizens are invited to take a turn reading the document in its entirety, then sign a replica of the document just as the original delegates to the Constitutional Convention did 239 years ago.

In addition, schools, senior centers, and other community groups are encouraged to stage similar readings or other Constitution-related programs on that day.

Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.

At the reading on September 17 at the Courthouse, participants and observers are asked to refrain from distributing or displaying any partisan political campaign materials, including handbills, signs, posters, buttons/pins, hats, articles of clothing, or other such visible items. Weather permitting, the reading will be held on the outside steps at the main entrance of the Courthouse.

To inquire about school- or community-based Constitution programs or to register to read at the Sept. 17 event at the Courthouse, contact the Washington County Bar Association at 724-225-6710 or wcba@washcobar.org. Observers are welcome, and pre-registration is not required for this public event.

The Bar Association is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of 460 attorneys and judges and was founded in 1892 to support the legal profession. The Bar Association and its charitable Bar Foundation coordinate Constitution Day activities and other civic education programs to promote respect for the law and the courts and to improve public understanding of the legal system.