American Legion Post 139

·         DECEASED

** In order to honor Past Department Commanders a Status, the convention elected R.D. Morrow, who served a short period, resigned, then the convention elected Clyd McGehee.

It was on September 8, 1892, when a Boston-based youth magazine "The Youth's Companion" published a 22-word recitation for school children to use during planned activities the following month to honor and commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America.   Under the title of , "The Pledge to the Flag", this composition was the earliest version of what we know today as the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

Of the two men involved in this planning, Francis Bellamy and James Upham, we are not sure which one actually wrote the words. But we do know for certain that the words first appeared in the September 8, 1892 issue of "The Youth's Companion", and a month later more than 12 million school children recited the words for the first time in schools across the nation.  Our Pledge of Allegiance was born,

There were 4 changes to our "Pledge". 1892, 1923, 1924, and 1954. The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God".   As he authorized this change he said:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance.  The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal.  Those words now read:

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.

In 1892, 1923, 1924 and 1954 the American people demonstrated enough concern about the actual words in the Pledge to make some necessary changes.  Today there may be a tendency among many Americans to recite "by rote" with little thought for the words themselves. Where are our patriotic youth of today? Where are our schools and teachers who instilled a love of country and it's Flag in our nations children? Are we so hell bent on being so "Politically Correct" so "Tolerant" so "Don't offend anyone",  that our country and our way of life has been so forgotten that we really as a Nation do no longer exist?

It's past time to wake up and again start to instill ,especially in our school youth, a love of our country, its flag and its rich traditions born thru the lives of its many immigrants (LEGAL), and the blood of its many Veterans, in their service, and some with their life, to keep it alive.

God Bless the USA and its Flag and long may it wave.

The 'American Creed' states the following:

     I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to Love it; to Support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to Respect its Flag; and to defend it against all enemies."

And that includes all illegals and Islamic Muslum facists terrorists.