Since it's almost the 4th of July and my SIL's birthday, what a better time to create a book of Red Skelton's recollection of his teachers explaination of the meaning of the pledge of allegiance. I find ironic that in his closing statement he makes the comment regarding the addition of the words UNDER GOD, "wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools too?"...It almost happened and may still.....

Credits:
Freedoms Ring by Anita Stergio
Independent by Chirpi
All that Glitters by Birgit Kerr

Here is his speech /lesson:

The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day


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's 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 50 great states.
Fifty individual communities with pride and dignity and
purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to
a common purpose, and that's love for country.

And to the 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 quality of dealing fairly with others.

For all
which means, boys and girls, it's as much your
country as it is mine.

***~~**~~***
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our countryand 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?