Happy Birthday, United States

One of our readers called Friday about the Pledge of Allegiance as interpreted by one of America’s most beloved entertainers, the late Red Skelton.

In 1969 on his television program, Skelton reminisced about a former teacher in his hometown of Vincenne, Ind. Skelton at the time was a young student — he said he worked in the summer and went to school in the winter, then dropped out in the seventh grade to go make a living — and the words of this teacher stuck with him, then were shared with his viewers before gaining new life in the online world of the Internet.

On America’s 235th birthday, it’s a good way to motivate us to take another look at the things we take for granted and how precious they truly are, especially our freedom.

Here’s what Skelton related to his audience:

I had this one teacher, he was the principal of the Harrison School in Vincenne, Indiana. To me this was the greatest teacher, a real sage, of my time, anyhow. He had such wisdom. And we were all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance one day and he walked over — this little teacher, Mr. Lasswell was his name. He says, “I’ve been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester, and it seems as though it’s becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?

I — Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge — Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance — My love and my devotion.

To the Flag — Our standard. “Old Glory”; a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody’s job.”

United — That means we have all come together.

States — Individual communities that have united into 48 great states; 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country, of America.

And to the Republic — Republic: A state in which sovereign power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it’s from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands

One Nation — One nation, meaning “so blessed by God.”

Indivisible — Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty — Which is freedom; the right of power to live one’s own life without fears, threats or any sort of retaliation.

And Justice — The principle and qualities of dealing fairly with others.

For All — For All. Which means, boys and girls, it’s as much your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite 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, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: “Under God.” Wouldn’t it be a pity if someone said, “That is a prayer” — and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

It’s doubtful that Principal Lasswell had any idea his words would stick so strongly with his young ginger-haired student, or that they would be amplified by that young boy when he grew up and perpetually shared with a nation that should frequently reflect on this type of wisdom.

We couldn’t think of a better way to say happy birthday, America.