The Pledge of Allegiance
Annotated

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America
And to the Rebuplic for which it stands;
One nation, under God, indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.

Do we think about what we're really saying when we say these words or
Do we just have them in our memory, not our heart?
Do many actually know what these words really mean?

Let's look in Webster to find their true meanings.

To Pledge means to promise.
Allegiance is the obligation of a person to his state or country.
A flag is a piece of cloth bearing a design or display as a signal, standard, etc.
(A signal is a sign carrying a message.)
(A standard is a basis of comparison.)
A Republic is a nation whose government is wholly elected, having no king.
Liberty is freedom from bondage, captivity, restraint.
Justice means conformity to moral principles or law.

The following is taken from The World Book Encyclopedia:

Frances Bellamy of Boston, Massachusetts wrote the original pledge in 1892 ,
While he was a member of the staff of The Youth's Companion.
It appeared in that publication on September 8, 1892.
Public school children first recited the pledge to the American Flag
during the National School Celebration of October 21, 1892.
The Second national Flag Conference set down the official words
for the pledge in 1924. Congress added the words "under God" in 1954.


A country is only as good as the people it houses.
As Americans, we are such where ever we happen to be in the world.
Our flag represents us, the people, not a piece of property.
When we honor our country, we honor the people within it's wall.

OLH 5/30/2004

The previous words written in red won a United States flag
from our local TV station on June 20, 2005:
KTBS-SHREVEPORT,LA

Sondance ~ Table of Contents

One Tin Soldier


'Only one flag is bold enough to cover us all.'