The Pledge of Allegiance

[gypsygirl]

This was written by my best friend Stormy. I thought it was well worth sharing....

Today I said the Pledge of Allegiance.

I want to shout it from the highest rooftops: "I said the Pledge!".

Most of you reading this would wonder why I think this is such a huge deal.

It was the first time I have ever said the Pledge. And oh what pride it brought me. And oh how humbled I was.

Most of you grew up in the day when we stood in class after the bell rang, and before the first book was pulled out of our desks, you stood at the side of your desk and put your right hand over your heart as you looked over in the corner up by the ceiling where our American Flag hung.

And you said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Every day, 5 days a week, 9 months of every year from the time you were 5 til you were at least 12, you got to do this.

I never did. It was not a choice given to me. Not in the world I lived in. My mother belonged to a religious group. This religion taught her that to pledge your allegiance to anyone except to God was wrong. It taught her that to support an earthly government meant that you were siding with Satan himself instead of God.

In turn, what that religion taught my mother, my mother taught me. So at the tender age of 5, I would stand at the side of my desk with my hands at my sides*(out of respect only, as per moms instructions),. Incidentally, peer pressure is incredible, and it did take a great deal of courage on my part throughout the years to hold my ground and to stand only but not pledge, however misguided my intentions were.

So I stood in silence as the rest of my class put their hand to their heart and Pledged their allegiance to the United States of America.

Throughout my entire childhood, I stood but never saluted, I stood but never pledged.

I never became a member of her religion (meaning I was never baptized). I have respect for them, (most really are good people, just misguided). But when you are a child and your mother and every one you are allowed to associate with teaches you certain principles, or doctrines, you don't question it. Not at age five....not even at age ten. But by the time I was sixteen, I had moved out of my mothers home.

At 17 when I graduated from High School, I signed up to join the Air Force. Whether out of rebellion directed at my mother or her religion, or because I did sense a level of responsibility to my country (probably a bit of both) I was determined I was going to make a career out of being in the Air Force.

I met a with Sgt. Brenner, I took the ASVAB and I was set to be sworn in the following week, when I discovered I was pregnant.

So life took another course for me. One that brought me many blessings including the birth of both my children, and my college education where I earned my nursing degree.

But it took more than 20 years for me to shake that religion and all the guilt that accompanied it. Although I never set foot inside of the church my mother belonged to, since moving out of her home at age sixteen, I carried with me the guilt and the indoctrination that the religion brought me, even many years later, when I was 35.

I was 40 years old before I set foot in any church. But this blog entry wasn't meant to delve too deeply into religion. It is to tell you how far I have come and what today meant to me.

When 911 happened, I think I finally broke free from the chains that being raised in my mothers religion bound me. I felt what all of you felt that day. I felt the pain and the anger as well as the patriotism. I remember that for the next several months, Americans became a galvanized union. Every American suddenly became brothers for lack of a better word. We forgot the petty hate. We stopped sweating the small stuff. When the pledge of Allegiance was recited at sports events or schools, everyone stood with hands on hearts, and the American Flag became the beautiful symbol of freedom it was meant to be. And for the first time in my life, I felt the pride in being an American, and the gratitude to all those men and women who laid their lives down so that I could have the freedom NOT to salute when I was a child and knew no better.

Today I said the Pledge of allegiance.

Out loud.

In a room filled with other men and women who hold the respect and who honor all the Veterans of all the wars our great country have fought in.

Being able to finally stand and Pledge my Allegiance to the Flag and the United States of America meant more to me now as a women pushing 50, looking back on her life than it ever could have as the misguided 5 year old in first grade who held her tongue while the pledge was spoken.

I am proud to be a part of the Illinois Patriot Guard. Just ordinary folk who show sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities, and who honor all Veterans past and present.

Being a part of such an organization was long over-due for me. Being a part of the Patriot Guard gives me a long over-due chance to honor those men and women who have laid down their lives for my freedom and those that are continuing to do so in our world today.

Today I said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Although I know everyone in that room said it from their hearts, I know my Pledge came from the depths of mine, with a pride too long suppressed.

Thank you for listening. And Thank You to the soldiers and their families for all you are doing for me and mine.

[yahoo]

WOW!! that was amazing. What a girl??? That is pride!!!!!

[Wingfoot]

Hey Gypsy - That post was Great!

Each of us was taught at a very early age to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in choppy 3 or 4 word segments. Oddly enough, American adults continue to recite the "Pledge" as if they were still kindergarten children. Instead, this is the correct recital of the "Pledge:"

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, (1st pause)

one Nation under God, (2nd pause)

indivisible, (final pause)

with Liberty and Justice for All!

This vow, slowly recited in this manner, gives the Pledge of Allegiance it's true and intended meaning.

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