By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Members of American Legion Post 75 prepare to raise the flag on Saturday during a Constitution Day ceremony Saturday as community members look on. Photo by Mike Donahue.

The 224th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution was recognized in Moapa Valley on Saturday with a flag raising by American Legion Post 75 and a mock Constitutional Convention at the Moapa Valley Library.

The original Federal Convention convened in Philadelphia in May of 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation of the 13 states. Within weeks, however, it became clear that rather than amend the existing articles, delegates were actually going to draft an entirely new frame of government.

The men worked throughout the summer and by Sept. 17, 1787, created the document that provided the framework establishing the three branches of our government — a bicameral Congress, an executive branch led by a president, and a judicial branch headed by a Supreme Court.

At Saturday’s local Constitution Day events, approximately 30 local residents proudly stood while members of the local American Legion Post 75 raised the flag in honor of the signing of that document nearly 2 ¼ centuries ago. Legion members participating in the ceremony included Bill Pickett, Herb Romans, Mike Douglas, Vilas Moffatt and Steve Tanner. Don Grady and Larry Goettsche also attended.

Following the flag ceremony citizens gathered in the Moapa Valley Library for several activities designed to honor the Constitution.

“Our intent was to let the community know more about the Constitution,” said Ben Muhlestein, one of the driving forces behind the event. “We wanted to make everyone more aware of Constitutional principles and how important it is that we preserve that document today.”

Activities included a mock Constitutional Convention community members playing period figures including Rebecca Muhlestein as Abigail Adams; Summer Omer as Dolly Madison, and Tia Stump as Martha Washington. Others represented included James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Roger Sherman who were played by Muhlestein, his son Ben, Josh Leavitt and Brody Leavitt.

Other activities included presentations by Charlie Cooper, a government teacher at Moapa Valley Empowerment High School (MVHS), and Raina Stump; signing of a large copy of the Constitution by community members, and mock a Colonial school.

Event sponsors included Sage Health, Sun Warrior, the Moapa Valley Library, the Moapa Valley Progress, Sugar’s Restaurant, Meadow Valley Farm, Desert H2O LV, Lin’s Market, Tiffany’s Pies and Subs, Quintillian School of Oratory, the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce and Overton Ace Hardware.