15 Seconds of Unity  

The Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892.  The oath was part of a patriotic marketing program, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. It was created to foster patriotism in public schools and help assimilate immigrant children to their new country.  

The Pledge of Allegiance is a statement of loyalty to the United States flag and the Republic it represents. While the initial recitation was for a specific event, the pledge’s popularity “caught fire”. Specific state legislatures soon began passing laws encouraging or requiring regular use in schools. By 1935, 24 states had statutes requiring instruction in flag respect, and many of these included the pledge of ceremony. Reciting the pledge is a common daily activity in many American schools, though participation is not legally mandatory for students. At Warren, we recite the pledge at the beginning of each day during announcements of second period, and our classrooms have flags.  

Growing up, the flag and the pledge have always been a part of my education and classroom experience. I remember it was a privilege to be asked to say the pledge on the morning announcements at school and even sometimes in Spanish, since I was in the dual language program.  Since Veteran’s Day was last month, I had the opportunity to ask my grandfather (Mr. House) a few more questions on this topic as he is a US Navy Veteran. He may be familiar to some Warren students as he is also a substitute teacher at the Almond campus.  He shared, “I have been standing for over seven decades whenever the pledge is said or a flag is raised.”  He first learned to respect the flag and the pledge from his family. He also knew several men who served in the armed forces including his father and two uncles, so it was a familiar ritual to show respect for his country. He mentioned that yes, while repetitive and sometimes it does interrupt his day, at an early age he learned, “that 15 seconds of my day was not too much time to show respect for my country”.  

So why do people normally stand for pledges? Normally, people stand to show respect and patriotism. Many people stand to honor veterans and members of the military who have served and sacrificed their lives to defend the country and its freedoms. The act of everyone standing together is seen to put aside individual differences and unite as American citizens under shared ideals. We see this a lot at sporting events.  I also found out there is a U.S. Flag Code that suggests specific conduct for citizens during the pledge, including standing at attention and placing the right hand over the heart. This is a guideline for behavior, not a law. Many other countries also have national pledges, and they are especially common in countries with large immigrant populations.  

Ultimately, the decision to stand is a matter of individual and personal beliefs regarding the meaning of patriotism and respect for the country’s foundational values. The pledge is an expression of allegiance to the flag, the Republic, and the enduring constitutional principles of the United States. Patriotism can be expressed in different ways, and I encourage everyone to think about their personal choice the next time you hear the pledge.