In honor of the 228th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, Republican Women of Wicomico County will host a celebration near the bandstand Sept. 19.

Scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at City Park, The Constitution Birthday Celebration, free and open to the public, will feature guest speakers, music and honors for high school students who wrote patriotic winning essays.

“The idea came from Miss Shirley Smack. It was her idea to have this celebration,” Ellen Bethel, club member, said about Smack, the 84-year-old club president.

“She loves America and she really wants to do things to promote what’s right. With what (President) Obama is doing, we’ve gotten away from what the Constitution stands for. People have no clue of what the Constitution stands for, what it’s about,” Bethel said.

Sept. 17 is Constitution Day nationwide. It commemorates the signing of the Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia.

Highlights will include music by The Bay Brass Band, presenting a medley of patriotic songs; greetings from Mayor Jim Ireton and Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver; and prayer by Delegate   Sheree Sample-Hughes, representing District 37A.

Students from Wicomico, Bennett, Parkside and Mardela high schools, who wrote essays about what the Constitution means to them in the 21st Century, will read their works and receive plaques.

Speakers will include Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew Maciarello, discussing law vs. the constitution; Sheriff Mike Lewis, talking about police vs. the Constitution; and John Gore, considering church and state.

Those attending should take a lawn chair.

This is the second annual Constitution birthday celebration hosted by the 10-year-old Republican women’s organization, serving Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

“This is non-partisan. This is not a Republican thing. This is an American thing,” Bethel said about the event, which drew about 100 people last year.

“This is for Americans who want to know, who want to stand up for the Constitution. It might spark some interest and make some people want to research it,” she said.