For most of us, September 17, 2024, came and went with little note—just another Tuesday as we lamented the end of summer. The kids are back in school, too fresh to learn just yet. For them, rekindling friendships and striking new ones are far more important than whatever the teacher has to say.
The most interesting news that day was the reminder that September 17, 2024, was also a Harvest Moon. Some of my friends have never seen a cornfield, let alone detasseled the stocks to prevent cross-pollination. A Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, the brightness of which aids in the all-day and all-night harvest of the end-of-season crops. For non-farmers out there, the autumn equinox marks the first day of fall. The sun is directly over the equator in the Northern Hemisphere, making for equal days and nights. If you look up the meaning of the Latin word equinox, you can get extra credit.
However, September 17, 2024, was also a Blood Moon, where the moon passed through the Earth’s shadow, causing it to darken and become red in color. The eclipse was partial, with the Earth blocking only the top portion. Completing the celestial trifecta, that day, I mean night, displayed a Harvest Blood Moon that is also a Supermoon. If aiding farmers in bringing in their crops and witnessing the beautiful natural phenomenon of an eclipse is not enough, September’s full moon appeared larger as it traveled in its orbit around the Earth.
Why was September 17, 2024, Harvest/Blood/Super Moon significant? Perhaps it was a beacon, drawing our attention away from the quagmire of today’s earthly divisions to shine a light on a time when free men came together to form “a more perfect union.”
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”- Harry S Truman.
In some cases, we should care. We should celebrate the conviction and courage of the thirty-nine signers of the U.S. Constitution. On Monday, September 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was coming to an end. The document that the delegates created outlined the framework for the greatest democracy in the history of man. Knowing that getting each state to ratify would be one of the first tests of compromise we as a nation would face.
Ratification would take 9 of the original 13 states. When they started, they were already down a player. For the Constitutional Convention of 1787, 12 of the original 13 States sent representatives. Rhode Island declined. Of the 74 state delegates, only 55 attended the Convention in Philadelphia, with many leaving before signing. Of the 42 remaining delegates, 3 refused to sign. Thirty-nine delegates were left to endorse the new document defining our government.
The Constitution created our three co-equal branches of government, established justice, provided for our common defense, promoted our general welfare, and secured the blessings of liberty for every citizen and their posterity.
Their document was also gloriously flawed. Knowing this, thirty-nine men signed their names to a Constitution that would define the soul of our nation. Each of them also understood that their work would need to be amended from time to time.
Jonathan Dayton, age 26, a lawyer from New Jersey, was the youngest signer. Benjamin Franklin, age 81, a printer from Pennsylvania, was the oldest. Alexander Hamilton signed for New York, and James Madison signed for Virginia.
George Mason refused to sign because the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams could not sign because they were away on diplomatic missions in Europe.
The Constitution concludes:
“…done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,…”
George Washington—President (of the Convention) and deputy (delegate) from Virginia
Let’s all agree that September 17 can and should be more about our shared purpose than our individual differences.
At 81, Ben needed me to show him where to sign
4 States signed — 5 to go
