Audio
Red Skelton presenting
the Pledge of Allegiance
Audio-Click to play
On January 14, 1969, I presented "The Little Old Man" as a teacher. The time was 1923.The students had finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance which at the time was but 10 years old. The old sage called the children together and said--
"Boys
and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of
Allegiance all semester and it appears that it has become monotonous to
you or could it be you do not know the meaning of those words. If I
may, I would like to recite the Pledge and give to you a definition of
the words.
I----meaning
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.
Of the United----that
means that we have
all come together.
States----individual
communities that
have united into 48 great states. 48 individual communities with pride
and dignity and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet
united to a common cause, and that's love of country.
Of America.
And to the Republic----a 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----meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible----incapable
of being
divided.
With Liberty----which
is freedom and the
right of power to live one's life without threats or fear or any sort
of retaliation.
And justice----The
principle and 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 nation, and
two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance "under God."
Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That's a prayer" and that would
be eliminated from schools, too?
Video
of Red Skelton presenting the Pledge of Allegiance
CLICK TO PLAY
Printed
copies of Red's Pledge of Allegiance are available through Art Corporation
of America.
