I remember this one teacher.  To me, he was the greatest teacher, a real sage of my time.  He had such wisdom. We were all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and he walked over.  Mr. Laswell was his name.  He said, "I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you.  If I may, I would like to recite it and explain to you the meaning of each word.

 I...me, an individual, a committee of one.

 PLEDGE...dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self pity.

 ALLEGIANCE...my love and my devotion.

 TO THE FLAG...our standard, Old Glory, symbol of freedom.
    Wherever she waves, there is respect because your loyalty has given her dignity that shouts "freedom is everybody's job".

 OF THE UNITED...that means that we all have come together.

 STATES...individual communities that have united into 48 states-49 individual communities with pride and dignity and
    purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united in a common purpose, and that's love for country.

 OF AMERICA FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION...meaning so blessed by God.

 INDIVISIBLE...incapable of being divided.

 WITH LIBERTY...which is freedom and the right of power to live one's own life without threats or fear
    of some sort of retaliation.

 AND JUSTICE...the principle of quality of dealing fairly with others.

 FOR ALL...which means "it's as much your country as mine".

    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's a prayer" and it would be eliminated from schools, too? May The Torch of Freedom Burn Forever, Red Skelton, January 14, 1969