Saturday, September 17, 2005
Lynne Cheney, author, scholar, and wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, celebrated National Constitution Day in 2005 with 180 elementary school students from Fairfax County Public Schools at Mount Vernon.
Mrs. Cheney highlighted how George Washington’s support was crucial to the creation and adoption of the Constitution. “I think it is vital to teach children about one of our nation’s most influential documents and the people who shaped it...George Washington played a critical role at the Constitutional Convention and his influence helped secure support for the adoption of the Constitution by the states.”
Mrs. Cheney also led the students in various activities on the estate, accompanied by historic reenactors of George Washington, James Madison, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Patrick Henry, Susan B. Anthony, and Harriet Tubman. The activities were designed to teach students about life in the 18th century and included rudimentary drumming, quill penmanship, and colonial children’s games.