by Annette Bromley

Created on: July 10, 2011

OUR PLEDGE of ALLEGIANCE

Too often our Pledge of Allegiance is recited by rote, just words we’ve memorized either by the time we start school or by the time we are through kindergarten but most of us don’t really think about what we are say when we say the Pledge of Allegiance any more than most of us do when we say the Lord’s Prayer every week at church.  They become just so many words spoken out of habit and tradition.  So what does it mean when we pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America?  Let’s see…

“I” (that is me or in your case you) “Pledge” (dedicate my worldly goods and being without regret or self-pity, I do it gladly) “Allegiance” … (I promise to be loyal, faithful and true, to honor) “to the flag” … (that is our emblem, our that represents our Nation, our standard, our symbol of freedom) “of the United States” (all 50 States, each individual and represented on the flag) “of America”  (the 50 States united in cause, forming one Union) “and to the Republic for which it stands” (to the Government, our form of government where the People are sovereign, have the rule and control) “one Nation under God” (all 50 States united as one single Republic under the Divine providence of Almighty God; God, our one most gracious and powerful resource as a people and a nation) “indivisible” (cannot be divided or separated into parts) “with liberty” (having the freedom to pursue our own life, well-being and happiness without fear or intimidation) “and justice” (to be treated fairly and justly and with equality according to proper law and principles) “for all.” (for every individual American regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender or any other criteria that may distinguish us from other individuals.

Our original Pledge of Allegiance as ratified October 11, 1892:  The original Pledge was as follows:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

Then in 1923 they changed the wording slightly at the National Flag Conference to avoid any confusion by immigrants taking the Oath to become citizens of the United States.  It was changed as follows on June 14, 1923:

“I pledge allegiance to my the Flag of

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>