July Patriotism

by Arlene Allen, Director of National Women's Department

We have just celebrated July 4th and patriotism is in my bones. I decorated the house, had a picnic, and even had fun shooting fireworks. My two grandsons, Grant and Jake, were visiting, so that made the fun even more special. 

During their week-long visit with me and Papa, I looked for ways to teach patriotism to my two young grandsons. I wanted to familiarize them with American history from a Christian perspective. Here are a few core concepts and facts I discovered, that you might want to share. 

The Liberty Bell

• The inscription engraved on the Liberty Bell in 1753 is taken from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim liberty through all the land and to all the inhabitants thereof." 

In God We Trust

• In 1864 the Congress of the United States of America approved adding "In God We Trust" to the two-cent coin.
• In 1908 legislation was passed making "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins.
• In 1955 "In God We Trust" became mandatory on all United States currency.
• In 1956 "In God We Trust" became the national motto of the United States. 

The Original Pledge of Allegiance

• I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. -Francis Bellamy, 1892

• In 1923, a change was made for clarity. The words "the flag of the United States" replaced "my flag." In 1942, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance. In June 1954, an amendment was made to add the words "under God." President Dwight D. Eisenhower 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." 

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 under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

Our Flag: A Symbol of Service

• June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

• The Act of April 4, 1818, provided for thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies, and one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the Fourth of July following the admission of each new state, signed by President Monroe.

• The flag represents our peace and security, our civil and political liberty, our freedom of religious worship, our family, our friends, and our home. We see it in the great multitude of blessings, of rights and privileges that make up our country.

• But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with our rights, we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done!

By the time our boys returned home, each was sleeping with his little right hand on his heart.