On Thursday, September 17, 2015, Hackney Library will host a Constitution Day reception and program celebrating the 228th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on that date in 1787.

The reception, which begins at 5:00 pm outside the library classroom, will feature refreshments, followed by the program at 5:30 pm. After the presentation, a question-and-answer period will conclude the program. The free event is sponsored by Hackney Library and is open to the Barton community as well as the general public.

Offering a different focus from past Constitution Day celebrations, this year’s program will feature speaker David Garrigus, a Wilmington-based producer, writer, and director of award-winning documentary and educational programs for over 25 years. Garrigus will discuss the making of his documentary, The American Constitution, which is now in production and slated to premiere in 2020. According to the program’s web site, the mission of the project is to “[p]rovide a pathway to the US Constitution for students and adults alike—to help citizens become better informed about their heritage, responsibilities, and powers in a constitutional democracy.”

The American Constitution is a five-night historical documentary series that tells the story of the United States Constitution’s creation, the battle for ratification, and the struggle for a bill of rights. This gripping tale is revealed through the words of the founding men and women performed by accomplished TV and film actors. Many of the world’s leading scholars and historians provide meaning and insight, including our own Dr. Jeff Broadwater, Barton professor of history.

The project is now gathering a coalition of scholars, teachers, organizations, sponsors, and media partners to create an entertaining TV series for viewers—integrated with an immersive learning experience for high school and college students. The American Constitution promises to bring to the forefront this essential American story, and Garrigus will share details about this project during the event.

Garrigus is no novice to the documentary-making process. The American Constitution will be his second major TV documentary after producing his award-winning Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brother’s Journey of Invention, which features Neil Armstrong and John Glenn as the voices of Orville and Wilbur. A definitive two-hour documentary that premiered on PBS and internationally during the 100th anniversary of flight, Kitty Hawk has reached nearly 10 million viewers with partners including Microsoft, Delta Airlines, Parker Hannifin, NASA, and the US Congress Centennial of Flight Commission. It also won Best Documentary at the International Family Film Festival. In addition to these awards for Kitty Hawk, Garrigus productions have earned Telly Awards, Cindy Awards, and a New York Festival’s Gold Medal.

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on Constitution Day this year for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the making of a documentary about this founding document whose enduring relevance is exhibited in today’s news headlines.

See you on September 17th!