Leaders share their love of country at Constitution Day celebration

South Jordan high school and middle school students attended a constitution celebration assembly Sept. 29 where they listened to senators’ speeches, patriotic music and participated in an abundance of flag fanfare.

Two back-to-back assemblies were held at the Bingham High School auditorium, the first with Bingham students, and then area students were bused from South Jordan Middle School, Elk Ridge Middle School and Paradigm High School.

“This assembly is all about patriotism,” South Jordan Mayor Kent Money said. “I wish we could hold it on the Fourth of July for all of South Jordan, so we can remember and pay tribute to all of those who have sacrificed so much so we can have the freedom we have today.”

Speakers included U.S. Sen. Mike Lee and an impromptu speech by Utah Sen. Aaron Osmond as they waited for Lee to arrive. Local government leaders, Jordan District School Board members, and the South Jordan Youth Council were also in attendance.

The city-sponsored event was hosted by Bingham High School.

“It’s a great pleasure to be able to host an event celebrating America with our student body and participate with area middle school ninth graders and some of our community charter schools,” Principal Tom Hicks said. “We are meeting to celebrate Constitution Day and recognize the values we enjoy by being in America. Having Sen. Lee here today is a great honor.”

The event kicked off with a presentation of the colors by Hill Air Force Honor Guard. South Jordan Youth Council members carried American flags through the aisles in a patriotic processional. Bingham High School Band performed John Phillips Sousa’s “Black Horse Troop March, and the event concluded with a performance of “America the Beautiful” by the combined Bingham High School Band, Wind symphony, Symphonic Orchestra and A’capella choir.

 “Sometimes government oversteps its bounds,” Lee told those in attendance. “Whenever any one person gets too much power, they eventually become a tyrant. Remember every time the government acts it does so at your expense. One way or another you pay for it. Most of the time that’s a good thing, but when government gets too big, if it isn’t acting within its power, we need to act.”

A handful of students raised their hand when Lee asked how many were old enough to vote. “We have to remember that Congress is spending money today that someday you’re going to have to pay off. That feels like taxation without representation,” he said.

Osmond spoke about the “miracle that is our Constitution.” Applause erupted when the majority of hands in the crowd shot up when he said, “Raise your hand if you have actually read the constitution of America.”

To show the students’ appreciation, Hicks presented both senators and the mayor with a Bingham baseball cap and gave each a copy of the book, “100 Years at Bingham.”

Attendees were presented with a copy of the U.S. Constitution, compliments of South Jordan City. South Jordan Councilmember Leona Winger said they are hoping to “establish and develop a love for the constitution and the great roll America has to play in the world. In South Jordan we’re producing patriots.”