Liberty Day, which recognizes the birthday of James Madison, was celebrated Tuesday, March 16 at Gove Middle School with four Colorado legislators visiting students in sixth- through eighth-grade social studies classes.

Representatives Tom Wiens, John Salazar and Sue Windels along with Senator John Andrews talked to classes about the U.S. Constitution. They shared personal experiences, answered questions and passed out copies of the Constitution to students.

Representative John Salazar, Democrat from Alamosa, spoke to Mr. Jesus Garcia's seventh-grade students. He told students that they should be proud of their names, their heritage and that they could do anything in their lives that they set their hearts on if they worked hard.

Referring to his own background, Salazar disclosed that he grew up poor and although his own father was a struggling farmer, he promised his children that he would do his utmost to provide them an education. Mr. Salazar and his siblings all have a college degree. He and his brother, State Attorney General Ken Salazar, are both seeking higher offices later this fall.

Mr. Salazar also addressed the significance of the Bill of Rights and how the freedoms that it provides allow students to exercise a further scope of liberty.

All the legislators urged students to write them letters about their feelings and impressions of the visits, promising to display the top two letters at the State Capitol building. Gove students were invited to visit the Capitol for an inside look at the workings of state government.

Gove Middle School is located at 4050 E. 14th Ave. The school’s telephone number is 303-394-8860.