The Committee on the Protection of Constitutional Rights is hosting a birthday party and appreciation celebration for the U.S. Constitution (note to Kestrel: yes, including the amendments) in the House chamber of the Statehouse, with refreshments in the Cedar Creek Room.

It’s all happening on September 17, Thursday, from 5-6:30 pm.

The speaker for the occasion is Professor Sheldon Novick of the Vermont Law School, where he has taught Constitutional law and American legal history, among other subjects. He’s also the author of a well-received biography of a Supreme Court Justice of whom nearly anyone who survived high school American Studies classes has heard: Oliver Wendell Holmes (no, no, not the guy played by Basil Rathbone who went around saying “Elementary, my dear Watson!”  That was Sherlock Holmes).

More on the flip.

We’re talking about Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., 30 years on the US Supreme Court, nominated by Teddy Roosevelt (on the recommendation of Henry Cabot Lodge), served until FDR was elected.

But I digress.

Professor Novick’s topic is “Toward a More Perfect Union.” From the press release:

People have always disagreed about the meaning of the Constitution, beginning with its first words, “We the People of the United States.” The Preamble seems to speak of one people, but owing to compromises made with slavery and tradition, not everyone could be a citizen, vote, or hold office. Gradually, since the Civil War, non-white men and women of all races have been gaining full legal citizenship. Our federal republic has been moving toward the “more perfect Union” free of compromises that the Preamble promised. President Obama says that his appointment of the first Latina to the Supreme Court is another step in that direction.

And wouldn’t you know it, the host group is a subcommittee of the VDP State Committee. Seems like Democrats are the only ones who actually care about the Constitution since oh, say, the year 2000, although schools are now required to “develop programming” to observe the Constitution’s birthday every year. (The regulation was set up in 2005 and somehow got through a Republican Congress as an unfunded mandate for any educational institution receiving federal money.)

C’mon down to the Statehouse on Thursday. I’m not promising birthday cake, but how often does anyone get to blow out 222 candles?

If you can’t make it, check out the Constitution Day website. Find out which “Founding Father” you’d be.

Here are some words that figured prominently in the one I was identified with: “extremely smart,” “happily married … no children,” “stir up support,” “not flamboyant,” “thoughtful leadership.”