SPONSOR:	Sen. Simpson & Rep. Wilson
	Sens. Bonini, Cloutier, Ennis, Hocker, Lavelle, Lawson, Lopez, Pettyjohn, Venables; Reps. Brady, Briggs King, Dukes, Gray, Hudson, Kenton, Outten, Ramone, D. Short

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37

COMMEMORATING THE YEAR, 2014, AS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADDITION OF THE PHRASE "UNDER GOD" TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND TO HIGHLIGHT ITS LEGACY TO AMERICAN CITIZENS.

WHEREAS, on February 10, 1954, a bill to “amend the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America” by inserting the words “under God” was introduced in a Joint Resolution by Senator Homer Ferguson, Republican from Michigan. In 1953, the same proposal was made by Representative Louis Rabaut, Democrat from Michigan; and

WHEREAS, February 10, 1954, was chosen as the date to introduce the bill by Senator Ferguson to recognize the five-year anniversary of the imprisonment of Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty of Hungary, who was imprisoned and tortured by Communists for his sermons exposing 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,”; 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 and 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 with the phrase “under God” was on Flag Day, June 14, 1954; and

WHEREAS, The Pledge of Allegiance is an integral part of this nation’s identity, introduced to American children in their primary years and recited at major national events, and the inclusion of “under God” to its bold and moving language demonstrates our commitment to the spiritual values on which the United States was founded.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 147^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House concurring therein, that we do hereby commemorate and recognize the year of 2014 as the 60^th anniversary of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and that Delaware citizens be encouraged to learn more about this chapter in their history.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.