Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance
As a schoolboy,
one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge
of
Allegiance to
his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection
of
this lecture.
It is followed by an observation of his own.
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag -
- Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there
is
respect, because
your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, "Freedom is everybody's
job."
United - - That means that we have all come together.
States - - Individual
communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight
individual communities
with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary
boundaries,
yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic
- - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives
chosen by the
people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people
to the
leaders, not
from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty
- - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without
threats, fear,
or some sort
of retaliation.
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For
All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is
mine.
"And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:"
I pledge allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic,
for which it stands;
one nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a
small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have
been
added to the
Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said
that is a
prayer, and
that would be eliminated from schools, too?"
Red Skelton
I'll wave to all of you, as you leave
Take me with you, wherever you go
keep me in your heart each night.
And if you forget what you're fighting for
remember me, in flight.
Take me out to the battleground,
and then tear me into shreds.
Wrap the bleeding wound with me,
and bind the aching head.
Plunge me into the coldest water
to soothe the fevered brow.
Tie me across the shattered limb,
I'll support it now.
Let me dry the homesick tear,
and hold closed, the gaping chest,
for here, in the field, where hope is lost
I am at my best.
And then, burn what is left of me,
for warmth into the night.
So I may bring comfort, where there is need
and courage, for the fight.
My red is deeper, for the blood you've shed.
My white is purer, for your pain.
My blue will be bluer than the deepest sea
when you come home again.
Then I'll rise to the top of the flagpole,
where my colors are always flown,
and from there, when the war is over
I'll wave, to welcome you home.
~Author unknown
ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN
Hello! Remember Me?
Some call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner, but whatever
they call me, I
am your Flag - the Flag of the United States of America. There has been
something that has been
bothering me, so I thought that I might talk it over with you here today.
I remember some time ago, (I think it was Memorial Day, or was it Veterans'
Day?) that people
were lined up on both sides of the street for a parade. A high school band
was behind me and,
naturally, I was leading the parade. When your Daddy saw me coming along
waving in the
breeze, he immediately removed his hat and placed it so that his right
hand was directly over
his heart.
And you - I remember you.
Standing there as straight as a soldier, you didn't have any hat, but you
were giving me the
right salute. Remember, they taught you in school to place your right hand
over your heart,
and little sister, not to be outdone, was saluting the same as you. There
were some soldiers
home on leave and they were standing at attention giving the military salute.
Oh, I was very
proud as I came down your street that day.
Now, I may sound as if I am a little conceited, Well I am!
I have a right to be, because I represent you, the people of the United States of America.
But what happened? I am still the same old flag. Oh, I have a couple more
stars added since you
were a boy. A lot more stars added since the beginning of this country,
and and lot more blood
shed since that patroitic day so long ago.
Now I don't feel as proud as I used to. When I come down your street, some
people just stand
there with their hands in their pockets and give me a small glance and
then look away. I see
children running around and shouting. They don't seem to know who I am.
Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have some people forgotten what I
stand for? Have they
forgotten all the battlefields where men have fought and died to keep this
nation free? When
you salute me you are actually saluting them!
Take a look at the memorial rolls some time. Look at the names of those
who never came back.
Some of them were friends and relatives of yours. That's whom you are saluting,
not me!
Well, it won't be long until I'll be coming down your street again. So,
when you see me, stand
straight, place your hand over your heart and you'll see me waving back--
that's my salute to
you. And then I will know you remember who I am...
~Author unknown
Guidelines for displaying Old Glory
Sunrise to sunset.At all times if it's illuminated during darkness.
Should not be displayed during rain, snow and wind storms unless it is an all-weather flag.
Should be displayed often, but especially on national and state holidays and special occasions.
Should be displayed on or near the main building of public institutions, schools during school
days, and polling places on election days.It should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. When carried in procession with other
flags, the U.S. flag should be either on the marching right (the flag's right) or to the front and
center of the flag line.When displayed on a float in a parade, the flag should be hung from a staff or suspended so it
falls free.It should not be draped over a vehicle.
When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the U.S. flag should be on
its own right (left to a person facing the wall) and its staff should be in front of the other flag's
staff.In a group of flags displayed from staffs, the U.S. flag should be at the center and the highest
point.When flags of states, cities or organizations are flown on the same staff, the U.S. flag must be at
the top (except during church services conducted at sea by Navy chaplains).When other flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag should be hoisted first and
lowered last.It must be on the right of other flags and no other flag should stand higher than it.
Flags of other nations should be flown from separate staffs.
International custom dictates that flags of different nations be displayed at the same height in
peacetime and be approximately the same size.If the flag is suspended outdoors from a rope stretched from a building to a pole, the flag
should be hoisted out from the building with the union first.When the flag is displayed other than from a staff, it should be flat or suspended so that it falls
free.When displayed against something, such as a wall, the union should be at the top and to the
flag's own right, the observer's left - whether displayed horizontally or vertically.When displayed over a street or sidewalk, where it can be seen from either side, be sure the
union is to the north on an east-west street, and to the east on a north-south street.The same directions apply in a building lobby or corridor with entrances to the east and west or
north and south.When displayed flat against the wall on a speaker's platform, the flag should be above and
behind the speaker with the union on the left side as the audience looks at it (again, the flag's
right).When the flag hangs from a staff in a church or public place, it should appear to the audience
on the left, the speaker's right.Any other flags displayed should be placed on the opposite side of the speaker.
The flag may cover a casket, but should not cover a statue or monument for unveiling.
On a casket, the union (blue field) should be at the deceased person's head and heart, over the
left shoulder. But the flag should be removed before the casket is lowered into the grave and
should never touch the ground.It should never be draped or drawn back in folds.
Draped red, white and blue bunting should be used for decoration, with the blue at the top and
red at the bottom.The flag may be flown at half-staff to honor a newly deceased federal or state government
official by order of the president or the governor, respectively.On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon.
Whenever the flag is displayed at half-staff, it should be first raised to the top.
Lowering from half-staff is preceded by first raising it momentarily to the top.
Ragged Old Flag
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."
"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing _Oh Say Can You See_.
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams."
"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag."
"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam."
"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused."
"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more."
"So we raise her up every morning, Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground And we fold her up right.
On second thought I DO like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."
~ Johnny Cash
