Pledge of Allegiance Defined

My tribute to the United States, following in the footsteps of Mr. Red Skelton

I have recently been very inspired by Red Skelton’s monologue on the Pledge of Allegiance. January 14th, 1969 Mr. Skelton stood on television before a captive audience and defined, by word, out Nation’s pledge. I’ve watched this recording multiple times and even transcribed his words so that I could absorb their meaning even more thoroughly.
I am part of the generation that recited the pledge every day in school. We stood, faced the flag and repeated those same words Monday through Friday. If you were lucky, you got the honor of holding the flag and initiating the pledge. It was your moment to shine, to speak loudly and with pride before your peers. Since then, I don’t get to say the pledge much. Special occasions, ceremonies, even in the military it wasn’t a daily habit like it had been in my youth.
Today, in celebrations of our Nation’s 243rd birthday, I am going to reaffirm my pledge of allegiance, by definition.
I - Singular, a solitary citizen of this nation. A patriot, defender of the Constitution, and public servant
Pledge – Make a solemn declaration of commitment and dedication
Allegiance – Devotion and loyalty without reserve or regret
To the Flag – The banner of our Nation. That standard whose 13 red and white stripes, a field of blue, and 50 white stars encompass the whole of the struggle to build and maintain our land of the free. It has waved proudly in our times of triumph. It hung limp as our nation struggled with hate and oppression. It reminds us every day that there are those that would try and take from us our inalienable rights so defending this nation is a task for all.
Of the United – bonded together by the rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness that we declared to be our right as individuals on this day 243 years ago.
States – People, towns, and cities joined together by the love of country into 50 self-governed entities whose lines are etched on a map and encompass the vast territory of America. All of them united through the common freedoms guaranteed to us by the Constitution.
And to the Republic - a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to laws.
For which it stands
One Nation – comprised of All people united under our banner regardless of race, gender, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or other defining factors so long as those people hold to the ideal that all men are created equal and dedicated to the ideals of freedom.
Under God - Standing united beneath the eyes of our creator. That name may be God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Mother Earth, or any other on the list of deities to which you owe your devotion. To whom your soul belongs is between you and that God. So long as you allow those around you the right to worship as their God dictates all gods will smile on our great nation.
Indivisible – Not capable of being divided into smaller parts. For though we are a nation of individuals, our dedication to the cause of freedom for all men will not allow us to be factioned. We have weathered civil war and reformed as a nation. We have fought oppression on foreign soil and built a stronger nation with those immigrants. We have been attacked on our own soil and still, we grow stronger when the differences between individuals pale before our love of country.
With Liberty – Those freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Our rights to free speech, freedom from religious persecution, our freedom from racial and sexual oppression our freedom to assemble and protest. And all of these granted by the people for the people so that they may be enjoyed with fear of punishment or retribution.
And Justice – the establishment and determination of rights according to the rules of law
For ALL – to each individual citizen of this nation without regard to their social, financial, gender, racial, or individual status. This country belongs to each one of its citizens equally. Each of us should be an American first.
Thank you for sharing this moment with me. I hope you have a blessed Independence Day surrounded by friends and family. Please take a moment to remember those who can not celebrate, those who are still holding the line and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. May God bless you all and God bless America.