I am a firm believer on God Almighty and in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I don’t hide my faith from anyone. I am not a Church going person but that does not mean I am a non-believer. I believe all religions are good. We all believe in one God no matter what we call him. You can find fanatical people in every religious group.
I won’t say “I don’t care if you believe in God or not”. I do care. I will not force feed you my beliefs. All I can say is that anyone who can look at the human body and not realize that it took something more than a “Big Bang” to create it deserves to have their own theory. Anyone who thinks man is an evolution of the Ape should go and get to know their relatives a little better.
My father taught his children to believe in God. We went to church (Catholic) almost every Sunday. My mother never attended church but she to believed in God. God is Great and we are Good.
Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, wrote the Pledge in 1892. He wrote it in hopes that it would be used by all nations. How could all nations use it? Well, here is the original Pledge of Allegiance as he wrote it: I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It was written so all people could be proud of Their Flag and Their Country.
In 1932, the words “of the United States of America” were added to the Pledge. This made a version of the Pledge “Ours”. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, encouraged the Congress to add the words “Under God”. Congress passed a measure doing so. Why did Ike want those words added? He wanted us to get back to our founding fathers beliefs. Our nation was founded on religious freedom. The words “under god” does not support any religion but all religions instead.
Originally, when the Pledge started a “Hand Salute” was rendered (with the right hand) and after the words “to my flag” the right hand would be extended towards the flag. This looked too much like the Nazi Salute and after WWII it was changed to “placing the hand over the heart” from the beginning to the end.
We, the people, should stand tall and proud. Our country is great. Anyone who does not think so or who opposes the new Pledge should move to another country. Why should we, the majority, always have to submit to the minority? Let us stand up and say enough is enough. This is Our Pledge.
*most of the information and the Pledge of Allegiance came from the website ushistory.org
www.poofcat.com/july.html. This is the famous rendition of the Pledge of the late great Red Skelton.
Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment 
edd hogeboom
April 2, 2011
It would be a serious understatement to say anything less than this site and its content moves my heart, mind and soul to other places, other times. The good times found and the bad times lost – until the night! But that’s why we fly with Him as our Co-Pilot and/or Observer. The mission of our Cav is never complete. Getting off that plane in Ben Hoa was the first step into the rest of my life. Being carried on a stretcher into the hospital at Camp Zama, Japan was just another step in our Mission!
The Missions counted, but our Brothers in the Cav counted much more! Stand tall gentlemen – this Nation and our God has and continues to depend on us, even today!!
Blessings always to my Beloved Brothers,
edd (Cavalier 16)