"Getting back to school, I remember a teacher that I had. Now I only went, I went through the seventh grade. I left home when I was 10 years old because I was hungry. (laughter) And ... this is true. I worked in the summer and went to school in the winter. But, I had this one teacher, he was the principal of the Harrison school, in Vincennes, Indiana. To me, this was the greatest teacher, a real sage of ... of my time, anyhow.

He had such wisdom. We were all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance one day, and he walked over. This little old teacher ... Mr. Lasswell 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, 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's respect because your loyalty has given
her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!

of the United

that means that we have all come together.

States of America,

individual communities that have united into 48 great states.
Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and
purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to
a common purpose, and that's love for country.

and to the Republic

Republic ... a state in which sovereign power is
invested in representatives chosen by the
people to govern. And 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 threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.

and Justice

the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.

for all.

for all ... which means, boys and girls, it's as much your
country as it is 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 is a prayer and that would be
eliminated from schools too?