Guest Editorial: 229 years ago, America became . . . America

Yesterday marked a hidden holiday, as uncelebrated as it is unappreciated. It was 229 years ago December 15 that the United States ratified the Bill of Rights, ensuring unprecedented freedom for the people of an emerging nation.

Bill of Rights Day has actually been a national holiday since Nov. 28, 1941 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated Dec. 15 “Bill of Rights Day.” Roosevelt had big plans, envisioning flag-flying and ceremonies nationwide. Roosevelt observed that Adolph Hitler feared “our freedom of speech, press and religion.” Unfortunately, the attack on Pearl Harbor on De...