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Since this week had Flag Day and I saw little difference in the neighborhood, I just thought this might be a good lesson.

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

The wave of a piece of clothe that we follow gathering like minds together and so we pledge alliance.

I pledge Allegiance (promise to be true) to the flag (a banner that is the symbol of the country) of the United States of America (the gathering of states, cities and communities grouped under this banner) and to the Republic (a country where the “people” choose the laws governing them) for which it stands, one nation (unity) under God (a supreme being believed by many but not all), indivisible (unable to separate except in civil war), with Liberty and Justice (freedom and fairness) for all.

The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity through the official program of the National Public Schools Celebration of Columbus Day, which was printed in The Youth's Companion of September 8, 1892, and at the same time sent out in leaflet form to schools throughout the country. School children first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

“The flag of the United States” replaced the words “my Flag” in 1923 because some foreign-born people might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth instead of the United States flag. A year later, “of America” was added after “United States.”

No form of the Pledge received official recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when the Pledge was formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954, when Congress passed a law, which added the words “under God” after “one nation.”

Originally, the pledge was said with the right hand in the so-called “Bellamy Salute,” with the right hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body.

Once Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942 Congress also established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.

The Flag Code specifies that any future changes to the pledge would have to be with the consent of the President.

These banners have been around for ages, gathering like groups under colors of family and faith. Great battles formed around these banners declaring each ideal and family. When the victor raised the banner, the day was done.

Much like school colors or coats of arms or tartans, the banner separates us from the rest of the globe yet joins us into a family of likeness.

So we learn in school to stand and face a piece of material hanging on a stick, placing our right hand on our chest and repeat every day a anthem to an unknown.

I saw a magnetic flag on a car today. You know like those that were on every car after 9/11. There are so few left, it stood out. Yet faded and worn, it still sat on the trunk of the car, a testimony to resilience.

When was the last time you saw the stars and strips wave and gave the pledge?