 As
a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the meaning of
the Pledge of Allegiance to his class.
Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection
of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
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 that we have all come together.
States of America
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
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; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats,
fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice
The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
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 that is a prayer, and that would
be eliminated from schools, too?
Red Skelton
July 18, 1913 - Sept. 17, 1997
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The USS Odax 