KAREY SHANE

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance Speech

Do you know who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance, or the words to it? In honor of Columbus Day, let's listen to how a comedian you've probably never heard of, Red Skelton, recited the Pledge of Allegiance way back in 1969. He says a few things that might cause you to ask yourself, "How could he have known?" Please leave a comment below letting me know why this video is important to you.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE,
written by Francis Bellamy, 1892

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."

When I was a French teacher at Carden Memorial, my home-room students and I recited it every morning at Carden Memorial School, along with all the other classes. We raised the American flag every morning outside the school. Take pride in your country, it's people, and what you stand for. Memorize the Pledge of Allegiance!

Memorize This ! : Invictus

How about celebrating our Memorize This! series by starting with the poem, Invictus? It gave the name to Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated film about Nelson Mandela, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

As Nell Minow describes it, "The poem was a source of inspiration to Nelson Mandela during his captivity and he wrote out a copy by hand for the captain of the rugby team to inspire him to lead them to the world championship." The poem has a special story behind it, because the poet William Ernest Henley had his leg amputated after he became a victim to tuberculosis of the bone. He wrote Invictus from his hospital bed. His friend Robert Louis Stevenson based the character of Treasure Island's, Long John Silver on him!