Welcome back to Life Captured!
As we fire up the grills, gather for fireworks, and celebrate America’s Independence Day, it’s the perfect time to look past the picnics and remember what the Fourth of July is truly about.
If you’ve never heard comedian Red Skelton’s famous 1969 monologue on the Pledge of Allegiance, you are missing out on one of the most powerful reminders of what our flag stands for.
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🇺🇸 “Old Glory” and the True Meaning of the Pledge:
A Fourth of July Reflection
Skelton recalled a teacher from his childhood, Mr. Laswell, who noticed the students had grown bored of repeating the Pledge every morning. To bring meaning back to the words, the teacher broke them down one by one:
- 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.”
- Of the United — That means that we have all come together.
- States — Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states (fifty now!). Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet common to a purpose, and that’s love for country.
- Of America
- 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, “blessed nation.”
- Indivisible — Incapable of being divided.
- With Liberty — Which is freedom, the right of power to live one’s own life as led by the conscience, the desire to do what is right, to make a decision without fear 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.
Skelton concluded his monologue with a line that still rings incredibly loud today:
“Since I was a small boy, 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 our schools too?”
This Fourth of July, let’s not just say the words. Let’s remember the unity, liberty, and shared responsibility they demand of us.
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! May freedom always ring. 🎆🔴⚪🔵
Stay Safe and Have Fun this Fourth of July, under God. Amen!
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Happy 4th of July!
Thanks, Joanne. Wishing you a safe and fun weekend yourself.
All the best.
I love my American Flag and all she stands for. Long may she wave, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE FOR ALL.
Just because we live in America, does not mean everyone honors what our stars and stripes stand for. As “born in America” citizens, we take advantage of our pledge. People who immigrate from other countries, to become U.S. American citizens, have to study hard, learn the constitution, and other values we share, then take an oath to be the best citizen ever. It is quite a touching ceremony. We who are born in the USA, take advantage of all our privileges.
I’m PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, WHERE AT LEAST I KNOW IM FREE.
Thank you to our military for protecting our America.
God bless us all.
GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.
We appreciate your service!!
Be safe this weekend.
All the best.
I remember Red Skelton very well! We always watched his show when I was a child and I do remember this wonderful speech. Happy and safe 4th of July!
I thought Red was so funny. It wasn’t until I was older and driving, Paul Harvey (the Rest of the Story) that introduced me to this poem.
Thanks for dropping by. Come anytime. You’re always welcome!
All the best.
I love Red Skelton, and he’s from Indiana. He was born not too far from where I live. We watched his show when I was a kid. I learned of this poem when I was teaching and shared it with my students. I believe I found the video of it and showed it on my SMARTboard. It’s a very good way to understand the pledge. Have a wonderful holiday!
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Hi, Marsha. I liked Red, Johnny (Carson) and Star Trek. The good times! Nothing compares.
Have a fun and safe weekend.
All the best.
Those are beautiful words and pledge!
Thank you, Nicole. Hope you are staying cool!
All the best.
I’ve never heard of this before. It’s a good reminder to know what we are really pledging too. Happy Independence Day!
Thank you, Amy. It’s raining today (4th). We have decided to pass on the party’s we were invited to. Hopefully the weather is good for you and your celebrations.
All the best.
Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July! I love this study of what we are really saying when we recite the pledge. My husband and I moved here from Canada and obtained our US citizenship, and we are very proud and patriotic Americans. It is such an honor and so exciting to be celebrating Independence Day in America’s 250th year!
Visiting from ST&F
I so appreciate that you took the correct steps to become citizens of the US. Thank you! So many born Americans have no appreciation of the freedoms we have been given. Welcome to America!
Visit anytime, Kym.
All the best.
What a brilliant teacher to break down the meaning like that! Knowing what it means when you say it is so important. Happy Independence Day! Thank you for sharing this with us at the Will Blog for Comments #87 linkup! Welcome! 🙂 We hope to see you again–sharing old posts or new–at #88 which opens Monday morning.
Hi, Jennifer. Being a school bus driver I’m at the elementary and middle schools more. On several different visits I would hear while in the parking lot the bell ringing and the announcement of the Pledge Allegiance. I would stop and hear the kids reciting the pledge. It was so comforting to hear, “under God’. So happy the school district I work for kept those two words.
Take care and all the best.