Having a Happy Birthday!

birthday balloon bouquet

Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.
~Jean Paul Richter

Writer's Challenge 2010: "X"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: Xanthus, xenophobe, x-ray [these are among the toughest words in the series!]

Thank you and good luck!

A Painter of Flowers

click to enlarge

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.
~Claude Monet

I would dearly love to see what M. Monet would make of these flowers! I snapped the picture a few days ago, while the temperature hovered in the low 80s. After weeks of low humidity and clear skies -- our usual summer pattern, but not the best condition for growing green -- it was a lovely surprise to see anything coming up, much less such a lovely variety of wildflowers. How many can you count?

I'm calling this grouping "strawflowers" only because they seem as brittle and fragile as dried flowers, not because they are of the strawflower variety.

They only recently bloomed, however, and when they are watered, take the welcoming moisture in their stride and reach for the sky with renewed vigor. Their brilliant petals defy their washed out stems and leaves and even from a distance pop with color so welcoming, they make my heart glad. I love them!

My friend, in whose garden these flowers reside, said he was so happy to see them finally grow and bloom, after our dreadfully cold and wet Spring and recent blistering weather.

There is nothing sweeter than a patch of colorful flowers brightening up the landscape in unexpected places. I hope you have such a patch nearby and have the opportunity to enjoy it everyday.

For more information: Monet biography and works, wildflowers, strawflowers.

Thank you for visiting!

Flower Garden or Public Safety Issue?

Seattle Fire Department on the scene

The city of Seattle has asked a citizen to trim back her flowers on the city parking strip in front of her home to city approved height or risk a big fine. She has refused on the grounds her garden is an enhancement to the neighborhood and poses no safety issues.

Read the articles and watch the video for details. [Links below.]

What would you do if faced with this problem? How would you feel about city officials threatening you with a fine when your intention was to beautify the neighborhood for all to enjoy?

Add a comment on any of the sites below and be sure to leave a comment here at the Ranch. I'm always interested to know how you feel about issues that, though local, are often identical to what might happen in your town as well.

For more information: local news story, KOMO news story, KOMO video.

Thanks for visiting!

Writer's Challenge 2010: "W"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: want, well, writ

Thank you and good luck!

Americans in the Crosshairs

Americans in the Crosshairs

This morning a friend sent me a link to this disturbing video and I wanted to share it with you. You can't make up this stuff -- unless you're a novelist who specializes in political thrillers. It seems to be legitimate, having run on MSNBC recently.

It's disturbing to even imagine our own government has a hit list of citizens, targeted for elimination. Apparently, this stuff didn't go out of fashion with the Nazis and the extreme leftist totalitarian regimes of Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and other despots and dictators. Oh, wait, is that what we've got now, only we just don't know it yet?

Take a look for yourself.



Very creepy, if you ask me. What do you think? I think it's important enough to share today and if you'd like others to know about it, please share, too. Remember, "Knowledge is power."

I also learned that this video ran on the Beck show today. Try to catch his discussion of the meaning of dictatorship. There must be a reason the administration isn't really worried about the Democrats losing Congress this fall. Are we in the early throws of a crushing dictatorship? This is something every American must decide for themselves. Perhaps this video is a start in understanding what we face.

Please share this with a friend.

Maria's Theory of Gardening

Maria in the garden

Maria's Theory of Gardening is uncomplicated, easily illustrated by the following story.

Last night my niece sent me this photo of her eldest cat Maria. This feisty indoor-outdoor cat enjoys the best of both worlds. Here she is lounging in a newly built garden planter box. My niece had intended to fill the box with enriched garden soil and plant some midsummer seedlings. Alas -- it was not to be with this cutie hijacking the box for a catnap.

As darkness fell and Maria grew a little weary of just lying about, she stood up, stretched, and ambled back into the house for a snack. After a light meal of her favorite Senior dinner, she found a quiet spot on the sofa, curled up and took a snooze. The garden planter box could wait until another day...

As you can see, Maria's Theory dictates simply, put off today what you might feel like doing tomorrow, or at some fuzzy time in the future. All personal whims must be accommodated first. See how easy it is?

I have employed her theory for unwanted or unpleasant tasks most of my life, not just vexing garden chores, and I must say, it works! Try it today and have a bit of fun. Maria would approve.

Thanks for visiting!

Missing You Mom

click to enlarge

If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven
And bring you home again.

~Author Unknown

The Jewel of Thun Field

click to enlarge

I snapped this photo today at the Pierce County Airport-Thun Field on a quick return trip to the field. It's amazing how different a place looks in the sunshine. When the sun comes out, it can go from dreary to spectacular in a heartbeat.

Hubby and I had stopped for lunch a few days ago, when the skies were cloudy and threatened rain. The food was great. I had a cheeseburger and hubby had beer battered cod -- both made the old fashioned way and to perfection. Here's the view from our table, with the huge hanging basket of flowers adding a sweet touch of nature to an otherwise utilitarian scene. I can't wait to drop in on a sunny day and have lunch on the deck.

click to enlarge

We took a quick stroll around the front of the restaurant that day and I snapped this picture of the restored DC-3. What an enchanting airplane -- oh the places it's been in its long and proud life.

click to enlarge

A cloudy day is so common here, so ho-hum, when we drove by the airport early this morning and hubby said, "The mountain's out," I said, "We're coming back on the way home for a better photo." And so we did and it's what you see at the top of the post.

For a fantastic shot of this plane and the mountain taken by a professional photographer, check the links below. [See the dramatic difference. A telephoto lens is a million times better than a cellphone camera!!! LOL]

For more information: Hangar Inn, history of Thun Field, flight info on Thun Field, Mt. Rainier, DC-3 restoration story, stunning photo of this DC-3 on a spring day, Wiki history of the DC-3, DC-3 Dakota Society, DC-3 Aviation Museum.

Thanks for visiting!

Writer's Challenge 2010: "V"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: vale, vein, vow

Thank you and good luck!

Hanging Basket

click to enlarge

'Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes!

~William Wordsworth

I snapped this gigantic basket of flowers at Thun Field [Pierce County Airport]. We'd stopped for lunch and to watch the small plane traffic in and out, though I must admit, I was more attracted to these brilliant baskets.

The entrance to the restaurant was flanked by two baskets, and several more hung over the deck that faced the runways. The flowers fairly popped with color from every corner, probably made all the brighter by the high drizzly sky. The baskets were enormous -- and the blooms seemed quite vigorous, despite last week's sudden and prolonged heat wave that sent the temperatures into the 90s.

We enjoyed a great lunch and checked out some of the small planes and the jewel of Thun Field, a newly restored DC-3 -- but more on her in another post. For today I just wanted to share this basket of flowers with you.

For more information: flowers for hanging baskets, hanging basket tips, flight info for Thun Field, weather at airport, WA state airport weather, Hangar Inn, William Wordsworth bio, more Wordsworth info, Wordsworth works online.

Thanks for visiting today!

Ice Cream Afternoon

a summer treat

Summer afternoon -- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
~Henry James

I would have to add two more words to that list -- ice cream! What is better on a blistering summer afternoon? Well, any time, really, if you are a fan of ice cream.

The vintage magazine above got it right -- there isn't a kid today [or even one from this era] that wouldn't have the courage to tackle a lifesize ice cream cone. True, most of us wouldn't get very far, but what an experiment. Brain freeze anyone? LOL

When you've tackled your share of the ice cream for one day, hit the shade with a languid novel by Henry James and you'll be set for a completely lazy day. I've included some interesting links to the Master's life and works below. His stories are not easily digested in a quick read -- but they take their time and once you've read one, you'll savor it for years.

My own "best" encounter with Henry James occurred when I was a teen, while babysitting the neighbor children. It was a typical stormy autumn night. Their mother had to run down to the hospital for the evening where their father lay very ill. I didn't expect her back until midnight or later, if at all. I tucked the kids in bed and settled down to read James' The Turn of the Screw.

As I read, the storm raged outside, every gust of wind rattled the doors, an eerie scraping persisted against one side of the house -- and then the lights began to flicker. Definitely a scary situation, coupled with the story I was reading. I should have discontinued my reading, which contributed to the frightful experience, and picked up something a little less "atmospheric" but it was to be an extra credit project for school and besides I couldn't put it down.

A crack of something nearby woke up the kids, the lights flickered out, and I suddenly had three crying kids on my hands. And scared out of my wits! The storm had knocked out the phone, too. [In the days before cell phones.] We found a flashlight, I plied them with cookies and milk and got them back to bed and tried to tell their favorite stories to calm them. When the lights came back on an hour later, they were relaxed enough to fall asleep.

I held my post, went back to reading but kept the flashlight handy. The phone never came back on and there was no way I was going to take even the tiniest nap on the couch. All I could do was return to my book and stay awake.

Needless to say, I was hooked on James from that moment. There I was living the book I was reading!! A very upsetting/exciting experience!

I've enjoyed James novels on film, too. Hard to believe it, but it's a tribute to the screenwriters that can take a any wordy James novel and make a decent script out of it. Entertaining, too, I might add, once you add a good production team, some fine actors, and a skilled and sensitive director. The Innocents, starring Deborah Kerr is probably the best of the lot -- so far.

Merchant Ivory Productions have created many memorable films from Henry James novels, too.

I've included several links below for this odd combination of ice cream, summer and Henry James. And check out his works online, too.

For more information: Wiki ice cream, more history of ice cream, ice cream recipes, how to make homemade ice cream [with recipes], Wiki Summer, Wiki Henry James bio, more James information, Henry James works online, Merchant Ivory Productions.

Have a wonderful day!

American Author: Sinclair Lewis

Sinclair Lewis at work

"The impact of Sinclair Lewis's novel, Main Street, was far reaching. Mark Shorer called it, 'The most sensational event in American publishing history.' Two years after the book's publication, John Farrar wrote in The Bookman, describing the incremental popularity of the novel:

'Lewis's friends all bought the book, then the cognoscenti, then the literati, then the literate, a paltry thousand or so. Then the sleeping beast turned over, rubbed its eyes, and woke up. Fifty thousand. It howled in ecstasy of self-torture. One hundred thousand. His publishers estimated that it has beyond doubt reached two million readers. And people are still buying and reading it for the first time.'"

~from The Writer's Home Companion
by James Charlton & Lisbeth Mark

When I went with my parents on a quick trip from Seattle to Minnesota to visit family, we had the good fortune to stop and tour the boyhood home of one of my favorite authors, Sinclair Lewis. The house was tiny by modern McMansion standards, but it felt like a homey little place and what I remember most was that it was stuffed with interesting objects and there was the coolest playhouse-sized version of the house on the grounds. This pint-sized building was painted in the exact colors of the original and seemed to be perfect in every way. [If I could find the pictures, I'd post one here.]

Since I've matured, I've come to appreciate Lewis's work -- not only his humor and the complicated tone he took toward his characters, but the characters themselves -- caught up in the whirl of the Jazz Age and the Modern world it came to represent. This boy from the prairie ridiculed the people he wrote about, mocking them as provincial bumpkins from his progressive/elitist point of view. He sliced and diced them as surely and deftly as his father the country doctor performed emergency surgeries. But his people are so real, so full of emotion and drive -- and a million flaws -- it's easy to overlook any overwrought political commentary and just enjoy the story.

Ironically, Lewis's life ended in loneliness and alcoholism, very much like an unhappy and unsuccessful character from one of his novels. For a good introduction to his world, take a look at some films based on his books. I think the Burt Lancaster Oscar winning performance in Elmer Gantry would be an excellent starting point.

If you've never read any Sinclair Lewis, take a look and give these stories a chance to tickle your funnybone, make you cry a little and probably infuriate you with his sometimes heavy handed political views. But you'll never be bored!

For more information: Wiki biography, Nobel Prize autobiography, boyhood home & museum, interpretive center, Sinclair Lewis Days, Babbitt online, bio & list of works online [online restrictions in the US], Minnesota tourism.

Thanks for visiting!

Rainier Cherries: Food of the Heavens

Rainier cherries

Vegetables are the food of the earth;
fruit seems more the food of the heavens.
~Sepal Felicivant

And the sweetest fruit you'll find in your grocery store right now might just be the Rainier cherry. I have mentioned them before as being my favorite summer fruit -- and this year is no exception. They're only available for a short time in early summer. Their rarity makes them all the more desirable.

Locally they are priced as low as $1.98 a pound. Elsewhere around the country they are priced usually between $5 and $7 a pound. In Japan they cost about $1 apiece. But price should be no object if you love cherries and have never tried these. Buy a small bag and chill them for a short time, rinse and drain. Then dive in!!

For more information: previous cherry story, Rainier cherry at Wiki, more cherry notes, Northwest Cherries, fruit shippers, Seattle PI story, Grandview, WA, Yakima, WA, Yakima Valley, Yakima River, Washington tourism.

Thanks for visiting today!

The Hieroglyphics of Angels

click to enlarge

Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning.

~Lydia M. Child

The beauty of this metaphysical statement led me to discover a few things about its author. What a strong character she turned out to be -- an early promoter of the abolition of slavery and women's rights, and a prolific author of fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Her rather grim visage belies a sensitive, thoughtful, and compassionate person. Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised!

To use the photo above for your computer wallpaper [or other, non commercial uses] click on the enlargement and save to your computer. [Please don't link directly, as it drains bandwidth. Thank you!]

For more information: Lydia M. Child biography, early American fiction, Over the River and Through the Woods, The Frugal Housewife, abolitionism, women's suffrage in the United States, overview of metaphysics, wildflowers.

Thanks for visiting!

Writer's Challenge 2010: "U"

Take the Challenge!

The Writer's Challenge 2010 features three pre-chosen themes each week. Your entry will be considered for re-publication online in the first Sunflower Ranch Anthology.

You are challenged to write up to 200 words on one of the three theme words we offer each week. You may write on all three subjects -- but not in the same piece. Please only submit one piece per theme word. Make each poem, short story, essay, or mini-drama a separate reply below in the comment section and remember to keep all your work to 200 words or less. *A note about language appropriateness: no vulgarities, obscenities, or anything offensive, please. Your work should be for general audiences.*

Each week you will have a new group of three words to choose from. At the end of the year, I would like to choose the "best of the best" and publish them in an online anthology at the Sunflower Ranch website.

You are encouraged to write each week. All the challenges will remain online here at the blog and you can add a new poem at any time. Use the search feature on the right to find the series by putting Writer's Challenge 2010 in the search box. Feel free to add your work to any challenge throughout the year. After we reach the last challenge, you will have about a month to add your final submissions. If your work is chosen for the anthology, you will be contacted through your blog at that time. If you don't have a blog, include your Twitter name or email address so we can reach you. For email, use this format: youremailname at serviceprovider dot com. [That should keep the autobots from sending you spam.]

If you have any questions or need any clarification of the challenges, please put them in the comment section below and I will do my best to explain it. Remember, no deadlines, write as many pieces as you wish, and oh, primarily, have some fun with these! Click here for last week's Challenge.

Here are your words for this week: under, up, urn

Thank you and good luck!

Too Tired to Play

Clifford, George & Misty

Well, here they are, Clifford, George, and Misty, too worn out after celebrating the 4th of July to do anything but crawl into their beds. They played hard during the day, then stayed up all night while fireworks rattled the house into the wee hours.

Hope you had a great rest after all the partying and fireworks, too.

Thanks for visiting!

Angel of the Fireworks?

click to enlarge

I snapped this last night and thought it looked like an angel -- if a somewhat fiery angel. What do you think? Don't you think America could use an angel right about now? LOL

Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Thanks for visiting!

Declaration of Independence

the First 4th of July

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.*

*For the complete text, please click here.

For more information: history & complete text, more history, Founders, Revolutionary War & Beyond, Charters of Freedom, photo of original rough draft, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson biography, Jefferson's famous home, download copy from Project Gutenberg, free hardcopy.

Happy Birthday America!

Gulf Disaster Censorship

Gibbs & Allen

It seems our most precious right from the Bill of Rights, our First Amendment Right to free speech is being violated in the Gulf oil disaster. Anderson Cooper of CNN filed this report and the implications are chilling. We have a right to know what's going on. Reporters must be able to continue to share everything they find with the public. There is no accounting for self-censorship or choosing to air a story or not to air a story because it supports a particular political agenda -- we all know every news organization does that -- but at least the reporters are able to see all elements of a story and choose what they bring to us. It shouldn't be the other way around where the government chooses the story. That's propaganda. The reporters then are not ncessary. Any government tool can deliver propaganda.



What is absolutely wrong is the government restricting access. That is censorship and anathema to a free society. But are we a free society? If not, when did it cease being free? If you can't pinpoint anything earlier, then this tidbit from Anderson Cooper is a good starting point. Think about it.

As we celebrate Independence Day 2010, please think about what information you are receiving via the media. Is it truth or censored? Is it honest reporting or just government propaganda?

The nation's Founders must be spinning in their graves.

For more information: Founding Fathers, First Amendment history & discussion, free US Constitution, US Constitution online, Anderson Cooper.

Thanks for visiting!

The American's Creed

The American's Creed

I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.

~William Tyler Page

[Written 1917, accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.]

For more information: history of the Creed, more historic information, the American's Creed & its meaning [published 1918], William Tyler Page bio.

Thank you for visiting!

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

America, My Country, 'Tis of Thee

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!


My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.


Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.


Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.

For more information: more lyrics & history, sing along midi, classic book.

Thank you for visiting!

The Pledge of Allegiance

vintage flag & eagle

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."

For more information: history of the Pledge, more detailed history, showing respect to the flag, pledge controversy, First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Red Skelton.

Thanks for visiting!