Saluting the Words We Live By : Constitution Celebration

In the midst of judges, lawyers and even wig-adorned James Madison and Patrick Henry, 17-year-old Katherine Mazzarese of Laguna Nigel exercised her First Amendment right to speak about the 19th Amendment.

“I feel that women’s rights are completely ignored and that the Constitution has both helped and hindered women’s progress. So I felt a need to speak out,” she said.

Katherine spoke to about 150 people Wednesday night who had gathered in the Santa Ana County Courthouse’s open air Plaza of the Flags for the the Orange County Bar Assn.’s two-hour Kick-Off Celebration and Reception for the U.S. Constitution.

Today is the Constitution’s 200th birthday.

Katherine’s topic was the 19th Amendment of the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. She cited the attempts of suffragettes at the turn of the century in stressing that losing does not mean failure.

“The struggle (for women’s rights) has been a long and hard one,” Katherine said. But “our goal has been achieved.”

The event opened with a color guard, balloons and the national anthem. “It seemed appropriate because we as lawyers protect the rights of citizens, which is what the Constitution does,” said Michelle A. Reinglass, chairwoman of the Bar Assn.’s Bicentennial Committee.

Reinglass said she thinks that people are aware of the word Constitution but not what the document means. “Its endurance over the years really shows it to be a substantial document.”

Association president Stuart Waldrip compared the Constitution to a baseball mitt he owned during his youth, then passed on to his children. He said that, like his old glove, the Constitution has survived the stretching, molding and abuse it was given.

“Abraham Lincoln” and wife “Mary Todd” sat in the crowd listening to state Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights) explain the Constitution’s origin and its system of checks and balances.

“We feel that the unity of the country has gone awry. It just isn’t like it used to be. We would like to bring it back,” said Lincoln, portrayed by Robert Acres, 50, of Santa Ana. He bears a likeness to the 16th President, including his height, weight and boot size. He and his wife, who portrayed Mrs. Lincoln, are visiting various Constitution celebrations.

To bring citizens closer to the signing of the Constitution, a re-creation of the ratification debate in 1788 between two founding fathers, “James Madison” and “Patrick Henry,” was held, with each in complete 18th-Century attire. Citizens had the opportunity to pen their own names on copies of the Constitution with a feathered ink pen.

Spectators said the event was worthwhile.

“The Constitution means a lot to me. That’s why I live here,” Frances Fitzgerald, 32, of Irvine said.

Lorie Gustafson, 30, of Santa Ana said that the Constitution means freedom to her and that “it’s worth celebrating.” And Katherine Mazzarese, who was selected to speak Wednesday night because she is active in student government at Dana Hills High School, agreed.

“People should look deeper into the Constitution, since it’s what Americans base their lives on,” she said.