HR0091

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, In its original form, the Pledge of Allegiance - 
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written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist Minister, and first 
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published in the September 8, 1892 issue of the Youth's 
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Companion - read "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the 
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Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with 
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liberty and justice for all"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, With two revisions between 1892 and 1924, the 
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Pledge of Allegiance read "I pledge allegiance to the flag of 
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the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it 
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stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for 
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all"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On Flag Day, June 14, 1954, after a campaign by 
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the Knights of Columbus and with public support, Congress 
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passed and President Eisenhower signed into law a statute that 
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amended the Pledge of Allegiance to read "one nation under God, 
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indivisible"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Pledge of Allegiance (Pledge) is a verbal 
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expression, the effect of which is to instill support for the 
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nation, the flag, and the principles for which the flag stands; 
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its recitation is not a religious exercise; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Pledge, including the phrase "one Nation under 
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God", reflects the historical fact that a belief in God 
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permeated the founding and development of our Nation; it is a 
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recognition of the fact that many people believe in God and the 
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value that our culture has traditionally placed on the role of 
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religion in our founding and our culture; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the Constitution embodies 
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principles intended to guarantee freedom of religion both 
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through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the 
 


 






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government establishing a religion; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Supreme Court has recognized that 
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governmental entities may, consistent with the First 
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Amendment, recognize the religious heritage of America; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Patriotic songs, engravings on U.S. legal tender, 
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and engravings on federal buildings contain general references 
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to "God"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Congress has consistently supported the Pledge by 
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starting each session with its recitation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Pledge is recited, on average, tens of 
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millions of times a day, largely by students in schools across 
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America; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The practice of voluntarily reciting the Pledge in 
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public school classrooms should not only continue but should be 
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encouraged by the policies of Congress, the various states, 
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municipalities, and public school officials; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Those who do not share the beliefs expressed in 
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the Pledge or who do not wish to pledge allegiance to the flag 
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have the right to refrain from its recitation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The phrase "one Nation under God" reflects that 
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religious faith was central to the Founding Fathers, and thus 
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to the founding of the Nation; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we revere the United States flag and the Pledge of Allegiance; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we support the continued use of the phrase 
 


 






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"under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.