[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  TRIBUTE TO RYAN GLASS OF CHAPEL HILL

                                 ______


                           HON. TIM VALENTINE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 1994

  Mr. VALENTINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the achievements of 
an outstanding young North Carolinian, Ryan Glass of Chapel Hill.
  Ryan, who is 11 years old, recently won an essay contest at his 
school, Durham Academy. His excellent essay on the Pledge of Allegiance 
earned him invitations to present his work before several Exchange 
Clubs in Durham, where it was warmly received.
  Ryan has made such a deep impression on those who have heard his 
essay that he was invited to read it at the National Exchange Club's 
annual convention. He is scheduled to appear at the club's ``One Nation 
Under God'' breakfast in Boston this Friday.
  I believe that all Members of the House will agree that Ryan's 
accomplishment is especially noteworthy, particularly for an 11-year-
old whose family only came to the United States several years ago.
  Ryan's essay certainly demonstrates his understanding of the history 
of his adopted country, the role of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the 
meaning of citizenship in our Nation. I hope that it will inspire all 
who read or hear it, especially those of Ryan's generation.
  It is also important to recognize the contribution of those Exchange 
Club members who have provided a forum for Ryan to present his tribute 
to the Pledge of Allegiance. I am particularly grateful to my friends 
in the Durham Exchange Club, Ed Bumann and Aubrey Wheeler, for their 
efforts on behalf of Ryan.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Ryan Glass for his patriotism as well as his 
superb essay. I recommend his essay highly, and I ask that it be 
printed in the Record.

                        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.''
       Imagine how moving it must have been on the 12th of October 
     1892, on the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America, 
     when 6,000 public school children in Boston first recited 
     this solemn promise of loyalty to our country!
       I wonder how much money American children today would 
     manage to raise if they were asked to help buy United States 
     flags for their schools? Well, in 1888 the children must have 
     liked the idea, because they collected enough money to buy 
     30,000 flags after reading about this project in their weekly 
     magazine, The Youth's Companion! This magazine had more ideas 
     for the children. It wanted to celebrate the 400th 
     anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival. Two men from 
     the magazine, Francis Bellamy and James Upham planned a 
     school celebration called ``Columbus Day'' where children 
     across the country would raise their new American flags over 
     their schools and together say something to honor the flag. 
     The president, Benjamin Harrison liked the idea and made 
     Columbus Day a national holiday.
       Francis Bellamy wrote his salute. It was one sentence long 
     and it read: I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the 
     Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with 
     liberty and justice for all.
       What do you think some of these difficult words mean? Well, 
     a pledge is a promise. But what do you think allegiance 
     means? It means to love and be true to something, and that 
     something was this nation or country. Indivisible refers to 
     the fact that this country could not be broken apart even 
     during the civil war 30 years earlier. After the war even the 
     slaves had liberty, and there was supposed to be justice for 
     all.
       In a short time this pledge was being said every morning at 
     school and it became known as the Pledge of Allegiance.
       In the next 20 years the country changed a lot. 
     Automobiles--the Wright Brothers' Flier--new states joining 
     the nation--the 1st World War--and now the pledge also needed 
     a change. In 1923 it was decided to add to the first line so 
     that it would read: I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the 
     United States of America.
       Now no one could wonder which flag they meant. It was also 
     decided that everyone should say the pledge with their right 
     hand against their hearts.
       In 1939, after a lot of arguing the United States Flag 
     Association declared that Francis Bellamy was the official 
     writer of the Pledge.
       In 1942 on its 50th birthday congress made the pledge 
     official. It couldn't be changed by anyone but the 
     government.
       Sadly some people did not like to have to pledge allegiance 
     to anyone but God and so in 1943 the Supreme Court ruled that 
     no one could be forced to say it.
       In 1954 a congressman wanted to add the words ``under God'' 
     to the pledge, the way Abraham Lincoln had spoken about the 
     United States in the Gettysburg Address. The words ``one 
     nation under God'' were added and this was the pledge's last 
     change.
       501 years have passed since Columbus discovered America.
       217 years ago the United States was born.
       101 years ago the pledge was written.
       A lot has changed but one thing has not and that is that 
     people across this Nation still promise to love and protect 
     this wonderful country of ours, the United States of America.

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