Pledge of Allegiance - Happy 4th of July!

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 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, fears, 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, 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 this is a prayer, and it would be eliminated from schools, too?

-Red Skelton

NOTE: On June 26, 2002, the Pledge of Allegiance was banned from public schools. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it was an unconstitutional establishment of a religion, since the patriotic pledge contained the phrase "under God." However, on June 15, 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the phrase "under God" in the pledge would remain intact. Today, the controversy continues as legal battles rage on about the pledge's constitutionality. As Christian homeschooling parents, we have a wonderful opportunity to impact our children with a love for our country. May we and our children always boldly proclaim that God is indeed the source of this country's many blessings!

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