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Community Invited to ‘Pause for the Pledge’

Local organizers are joining a national effort to honor our flag at a special event to be held Flag Day.

On June 14, Scott County is celebrating Flag Day (June 14) by participating in the 27th annual National Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance. The event will take place at the Virginia National Guard Armory.

The effect of this simple ceremony, which transcends age, race, religion, national origin, political and geographic differences, is a stimulating patriotic experience at home and a sign of unity abroad.

Scott County’s Flag Day celebration event, in addition to reciting the Pledge at 7 p.m., includes a Flag Etiquette Demonstration and Flag Disposal Ceremony.  Members of the community are encouraged to bring their worn and damaged flags so that they may be disposed of with honor by Boy Scout Troop No. 86. 

Gate City Mayor Mark Jenkins endorses the celebration and invites all to attend. 

"I believe we should participate in activities that honor our Nation's symbol of freedom while teaching citizens what our flag really stands for," Jenkins explained. 

Honor guards will present the colors including a colonial honor guard composed of members of the Sons of the American Revolution in period attire.

This event is sponsored by Virginia Army National Guard 1030th Engineer Battalion , American Legion Post No. 265 - Gate City, American Legion Hammond Post No. 3 - Kingsport, Tenn., Boy Scout Troop No. 86, Carter’s Fort Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Clinch Mountain Cultural Center, Elijah Cross II Chapter United States Daughters of the War of 1812, Gate City Police Department, Gate City Fire Department, Overmountain Men Chapter Sons of the American Revolution, Scott County Board of Supervisors, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Gate City, VFW Post No. 10611 - Gate City, VFW Post No. 3382 - Kingsport, Tenn.,, Virginia Defense Force, Virginia Frontier Society Children of the American Revolution, Wilderness Trail Chapter Colonial Dames XVII Century, Addington Oil Company, Bank of America, Pal’s of Gate City,, Scott County Telecom / Channel 30, Scott County Virginia Star and W.G.A.T. AM-Radio.

Patriotic music will be provided by Gracie Stidham during the event.

Refreshments will be served following the conclusion of the ceremony.

Flag Day honors the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as our national flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. This new flag symbolizes the new nation, the United States of America.

The Stars and Stripes first flew in a Flag Day celebration in Hartford, Ct., in 1861, the first summer of the Civil War. The first national observance of Flag Day came on June 14, 1877, the centennial of the original flag resolution.

In the decades that followed, many individuals and organizations pressed to have Flag Day observed regularly. One individual who waged a life-long crusade for a national Flag Day observance was Bernard J. Cigrand. As a teacher in the Stony Hill School near Waubeka, Wis., he kept on his desk mounted in a bottle, a 38-star flag, 10 inches high. At the close of school in 1885, Cigrand observed a first Flag Birth Day with his pupils.

The concept of the Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance is for all Americans everywhere to pause for a moment on June 14, Flag Day, at 7 p.m. EDT to say simultaneously the 31 words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. This simple ceremony is recognized by Congress as part of National Flag Day ceremonies. (Public Law 99-54)

Francis Bellamy, an ordained minister of Rome, N.Y. is credited with the authorship of the original Pledge. It was he, who on the eve of the 400th Anniversary of the discovery of America, initiated a campaign for the establishment of a national holiday on Oct. 12, to celebrate the day on which Columbus discovered America. In his concept, he envisioned that flags should be flown over every school-house and public building from coast to coast.
In the material which he nationally circulated, he wrote, “Let the flag float over every school-house in the land and the exercise be such as shall impress upon our youth the patriotic duty of citizenship.” He also included the original 23 words of the Pledge which he had developed. “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Thus it was that on Columbus Day in October 1892, the Pledge of Allegiance was repeated by more than 12 million public school children in every state in the union. The wording of the Pledge has been modified three times. In 1923, the words “the flag of the United States” were substituted for “my flag.” In 1924, “of America” were added. On Flag Day 1954, the words “under God” became a part of the Pledge. Thus the 23 words have become 31 words.
By a Joint Resolution on June 9, 1966, the Congress requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as National Flag Week and calling upon citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
The idea of the annual Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance originated in 1980 at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore, Md. Since then the concept has swept across the country in a grassroots movement supported by a broad spectrum of individuals, organizations and businesses.

The public is invited to attend this first-ever event that honors our country

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