San Diego Planning Variety of Activities for Constitution Bash

Civic shakers in San Diego are already planning a big bash to honor the Constitution’s 200th birthday.

Public education is the object of the San Diego County Commission for the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, according to its chairman, Joan Bowes, a La Jolla businesswoman.

“Our goals are to heighten the awareness of people in San Diego County about the Constitution, about the founders, and what it means to everyone,” she said.

But an educational campaign requires funding, and a birthday demands some partying. Those party plans are better fleshed out than the teaching program at this early stage.

Bowes said the events on the drawing board include:

- A 10-kilometer run in March, 1987. The theme: “Exercise your constitutional rights.”

- A tennis tournament. The theme: “Love your constitutional rights.”

- A horse show dedicated to the Constitution.

- On Sept. 12, 1987, during the week before the anniversary of the Constitution’s signing, the local commission plans to hold a parade, a reception for diplomats and celebrities and a “gala red, white and blue bicentennial ball.”

Local sports teams will be asked to dedicate games to the Constitution. Museums, orchestras and theater groups will schedule special shows. The military, boaters, service clubs and Sea World will be asked to share in the celebration.

A committee of judges and educators, led by Dean Edward DeRoche of the University of San Diego School of Education, will plan teaching activities for students throughout the county, Bowes said. Videos are likely to get heavy use.

The commission may print bumper stickers that say, “Support the Constitution.”

Bowes will testify before the national bicentennial commission Monday at USD. Other members of the local commission are Rear Adm. Bruce Boland, commander of the San Diego Naval Base; Sen. Wadie Deddeh (D-Chula Vista); San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding; USD President Author Hughes; Gordon Luce, chairman of Great American First Savings Bank, and Clarence Pendleton Jr., chairman of tjhe U.S. Civil Rights Commission.