Bill Text: MS HC1 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: United States Pledge of Allegiance; commemorate 60th anniversary of addition of the phase "under God" to.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2014-04-02 - Died In Committee [HC1 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HC1-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Rushing
House Concurrent Resolution 1
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING AND RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADDITION OF THE PHRASE "UNDER GOD" TO THE UNITED STATES PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMINDING AMERICAN CITIZENS OF THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES THAT AMERICA WAS FOUNDED UPON.
WHEREAS, when the Pledge of Allegiance was recited for the first time on October 21, 1892, by an estimated 12 million school children, Benjamin Harrison was President of the United States and the Star Spangle Banner was not yet penned as America's national anthem; and
WHEREAS, part of James Upham's "Schoolhouse Flag Movement" begun in 1888 and culminating in 1892 for the 400th anniversary of America's discovery, the Pledge of Allegiance was intended to inspire patriotism for future generations of Americans; and
WHEREAS, Francis Bellamy, who is credited with authoring the original Pledge of Allegiance, scribbled the patriotic tribute on a piece of paper, which read: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stand - one nation indivisible - with liberty and justice for all."; and
WHEREAS, first edited in 1923 when "my flag" was replaced by "the flag of the United States," it was until the following year, in 1924 during the second editing that the words "of America" were added; and
WHEREAS, on February 8, 1954, Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan introduced a bill in the United States Congress to amend the Pledge of Allegiance by adding the words, "under God," to the text of the pledge; and
WHEREAS, February 8, 1954, was chosen as the date to introduce the bill by Senator Ferguson because it was the five-year anniversary of the imprisonment of Hungarian Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty, who was imprisoned and tortured by Communists for his sermonic exposes denouncing the goal of Communism to eradicate all religion; and
WHEREAS, speeches were delivered in Congress by members of both political parties, honoring Cardinal Mindszenty and emphasizing the threat posed to America by Communism; and
WHEREAS, upon introduction of the bill, Senator Ferguson commented, "I believe this modification of the pledge is important because it highlights one of the real fundamental differences between the free world and the Communist world, namely, belief in God," furthering that with, "Our nation is founded on a fundamental belief in God, and the first and most important reason for the existence of our Government is to protect the God-given rights of our citizens. Spiritual values are every bit as important to the defense and safety of our nation as are military and economic values."; and
WHEREAS, the vote to add "under God" to the United States Pledge of Allegiance was a unanimous vote; and
WHEREAS, on February 7, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became convinced that adding the words, "under God," to the United States Pledge of Allegiance would be the right thing to do after hearing Reverend George Docherty preach that the phrase, "nation under God" was first used in the Gettysburg Address were appropriate to be added to the United States Pledge of Allegiance because freedom "is defined by a fundamental belief in God"; and
WHEREAS, the first time the United States Pledge of Allegiance was recited was on Flag Day, June 14, 1954; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and honor such an important date which strengthens the ties of history that bind us to our Christian heritage and patriotic values:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commemorate and recognize February 8, 2014, as the 60th anniversary of the addition of the words, "under God," to the United States Pledge of Allegiance and remind American citizens of the Christian principles that America was founded upon.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
