September 17, 2010, marks the 223rd anniversary of the adoption of the United States Constitution by the members of the 1787 Constitutional Convention of the United States of America.

The Oliver Wiley Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in Troy began its celebration of the historic event at its Wednesday meeting with a presentation by guest speaker Dr. Noel Harold Kaylor Jr., professor of English and administrative assistant for specified projects at Troy University.

Kaylor expressed appreciation to the members of the DAR for their commitment to their community and especially for the plaques that the DAR presents to newly naturalized United States citizens.

“The Constitution of the United States of America is the one document of which I am most proud,” Kaylor said. “The United States government is the second oldest government on the planet. The oldest in modern times is the Roman Republic, 509 B.C. To think that there were elected officials that many years ago is remarkable.”

Kaylor praised those who drafted the Constitution as a remarkable group of highly educated individuals with great vision.

“We are blessed to have had that group,” he said. “What they did was a miracle. They had done their homework. They knew what it would take. They drafted a Constitution that we still live under today.”

Kaylor said the founders of the Constitution created branches of a national government that would make it possible for the new country to be a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

“Article I made Congress the most important branch of the government,” Kaylor said.

The legislative, executive and judicial branches were given specific powers and duties and were subject to a system of checks and balances. The Constitution also provided for the rights of the states.

“The [Founding Fathers] knew that there would be a need for change and they provided for amendments that would make it possible to make those changes,” Kaylor said, eluding to the 19th Amendment that gave women to right to vote.

The Constitution was adopted on Sept. 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Penn. and ratified by conventions in each state in the name of “The People.”

The Constitution has been amended 27 times. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

Oliver Wiley Chapter DAR members invite everyone to read, understand and support the United States Constitution so that it continues to survive and protect.