Celebrating 227th anniversary of Constitution's signing

For 54 immigrants at the National Constitution Center, it was a day to celebrate becoming U.S. citizens and for thousands of others there, mostly schoolchildren, it was day to hail "We the People."

At the museum at Fifth and Arch Streets, thousands gathered Wednesday to mark Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

One of the highlights in the daylong festivities marking the 227th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution was the swearing-in of people from 28 countries by U.S. District Judge John R. Padova.

"Many of you have waited a long time. . . . Many of you have undergone great effort, perhaps great risk," to become U.S. citizens, Padova told them before welcoming them with:

"This morning, you are about to become our newest citizens, and oh, how happy we are to have you as part of our country."

Mildred Kaplan, who came to the United States from Venezuela in 2000, was selected to speak for all of the new citizens. After the ceremony, she said she worked hard to achieve her dream of citizenship.

"We were looking for this for so long," Kaplan said. "It was a long road traveled. Becoming an American is an important part of my life.

"We look forward to the values I mentioned in my speech," she said, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Meanwhile, in the center's main exhibition room, dozens paid tribute to Elizabeth Jane Cochran, known as Nellie Bly, the pioneering investigative reporter for the New York World in the late 1800s.

Bly was inducted into the center's American National Tree, an interactive exhibit that features 99 outstanding citizens, famous and not so famous, plus a mouse named Mickey.

Bly was nominated by Isabelle Breier, 15, of the Hopkins School of New Haven, Conn., in a contest sponsored by the center.

Asked why she selected Bly, Breier, a junior, said, "She was an amazing historical figure who worked tirelessly to fight against injustices. She was also a pioneer in the field of investigative journalism."

Students from elementary to high school and from schools around the region participated in the festivities.

The day began with a reading of the preamble on the center's front lawn. In the afternoon, a "Kids Town Hall" explained the making of the Bill of Rights.

Michael Milburn, 14, a student at Gesu School in North Philadelphia, said that by visiting the center, he came to understand a lot about what it meant to be a U.S. citizen.

"What I learned about being an American is that we have to stay together to evolve, to evolve our country and to evolve our union," he said.

He also "learned more about the making of American history and how we went through hard times."