It wasn’t too long ago when the Pledge of Allegiance (The Pledge) was recited in class, I wouldn’t care too much about being respectful.  I was a person that didn’t have the proper respect towards the flag.  Then, one day, a Navy officer came in to one of my classes to talk about the Pledge and what it meant to him.  As I listened to how he felt about the Pledge and others disrespecting it, I realized I had been completely wrong to act the way I did when I said the Pledge every morning.

                Those of you who disrespect the Pledge aren’t alone.  There are many out there who disrespect the Pledge too.  That is why I want to talk about the respect the Pledge deserves.  We are all members of this free country that our forefathers sustained through the Pledge.  They worked hard to make this country safe and free for us today.  When it comes to reverence and respect, what goes around should come around.  The Pledge deserves just that.

                The Pledge of Allegiance shows courtesy to both our flag and our country.  It captivates the strength and the unity of this great nation.  When we stand up and respect the Pledge, we are showing respect to not only the pledge, but to everything this country stands for.   If you just stand up and show reverence, you are at least making an effort to be a proud American.  But even though you are making an effort, you should be saying the Pledge as well.

                The Pledge has been around for such a long time.  Each word has a special significance and part in the Pledge.  The words all combine to create a very moving speech for those who need to be lifted up.  The Pledge gives those fighting in the war hope, diligence, and faith.  These things give them the strength to keep moving on and keep risking their lives for our country.

                By saying the Pledge, we are stating clearly and distinctly, ‘I am an American.’  We are standing together, the millions of us living in this country, and saying we cannot be brought down.  When we refuse to say the Pledge or be respectful, it is almost as if we are saying that we hate the freedom and safety we have.  We aren’t caring about all that our forefathers did to get us to where we are today.

                Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the final changes to the Pledge of Allegiance that we all know today on June 14, 1954.  His change has been our Pledge for 54 years.  As he allowed the changes, he said, “In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of the 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.”  Those words and that signature consecrated our Pledge, which has become a tradition to know and say to all of us.

                The Pledge is drilled into our heads starting just after we enter Elementary School.  Some think of it as a meaningless habit, or mechanical.  Even though it becomes mechanical for some, it doesn’t mean the Pledge is meaningless.  It is a binding oath.   Even if we don’t realize and honor it, by saying the Pledge, we are binding ourselves to it, and should treat it that way.

                The Pledge of Allegiance is too important to not deserve respect.  Those people who respect the Pledge of Allegiance are slowly decreasing.  We can change that.  All it takes is a minute or two every morning that you say the Pledge, in school or wherever you are saying it, to stand up, place your hand over your heart, and really listen to what you are saying as you Pledge Allegiance to the flag.  Who do you want to be?  The person joking around and making fun of the Pledge or the person ignoring the distractions and really saying the Pledge.