I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag...

Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day fill our summers with patriotic holidays. Each one represented by the colors of the Flag of the United States. Red standing for valor; white for purity and innocence; and blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Early patriots determined the colors and general design of the flag. From the beginning, the colors remained the same. The stars and stripes were debated but agreed upon eventually. In school we are taught that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag with the specifications of George Washington. Later, Congress passed laws to make flags exactly the same, to a particular scale, to hang a certain way, to never be thrown away, to be carried before any other flags, and so on. Since the flag has come to be the symbol of patriotism, Americans recite a pledge to it. It is an oath of loyalty to the United States of America. School children say it everyday and even the Senate and House of Representatives recite the pledge at the begining of their daily sessions.

The first pledge was written by Francis Bellamy. He was a Baptist minister, a children's magazine editor, and a socialist. He was a member of a committee for the 400th anniversary ceremony of Christopher Columbus. In the September 1892 issue of The Youth's Companion Magazine, Bellamy wrote:

"I pledge allegiance to my flag, and the Republic for which it stands: One Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." That October 12th, children all over the country recited the pledge for the first time. Since the original, changes have been made and Congress adopted The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America. Today debates and lawsuits over the words in the pledge are common. So let's think about these words for a moment...

I pledge allegiance...I promise my loyalty
to the flag of the United States of America...to the symbol of my country
and to the Republic for which it stands...and the government that it represents
One Nation under God,...one country, with The God as the true ruler, overseer
Indivisible,...not separate states, together,
with liberty...with the freedom to speak, think, share, pray,
and justice...and fairness and equality
for all....for every single person.

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.

July 5th Radford Worship Center will be having a choir special to celebrate our God and our country. Please come join us!

- Susie Hickman