Celebrate Pause for the Pledge Day Every June 14
June 14 is, of course, Flag Day in the United States. It honors the date, in 1777, on which the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the country’s official flag.
The very first national Flag Day was in 1877. It’s been officially recognized by the federal government since 1949.
But there’s a companion day that goes along with Flag Day that you may not have heard of: Pause for the Pledge Day.
This addition to the traditional observation of Flag Day began in 1980 at the Star Spangled Banner Flag House and Museum (Baltimore, Maryland). Baltimore businessman Louis V. Koerber came up with the idea, and he was joined by a group of fellow businessmen for the first Pause for the Pledge Day.
That first one was small but, promoted by The National Flag Day Foundation (with Mr. Koerber as president), the movement grew quickly. It soon became a national celebration, with events in communities large and small across the country.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this patriotic unofficial holiday.
How Do You Celebrate Pause for the Pledge Day?
This is really a pretty simple celebration.
At 7 pm Eastern you’re supposed to stop what you’re doing and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
That’s it!
Note that it is 7 pm Eastern, not local time. So the rest of the time zones need to adjust:
- 6 pm Central
- 5 pm Mountain
- 4 pm Pacific
You can stop on your own, facing your flag (you are flying a flag?). Or you can join ceremonies held by American Legion posts and other organizations for Flag Day. Many will also include the Pledge at the appropriate time.
If you want to be sure, ask the organizers if they will be doing this.
And speaking of pauses, when you’re reciting the Pledge, do you pause after “nation” and before “under God”? Most people seem to (that’s the way I remember learning it), but a few brave souls say that’s wrong.
Why?
Because there’s no comma in that sentence. It’s “… one nation under God …”, not “… one nation, under God …”.
Will you be reciting the pledge at 7 pm Eastern (with or without that pause)?
[…] Pause for the Pledge Day: This companion celebration to Flag Day asks us to face the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance at 7 pm Eastern. That’s it! […]
[…] Pause for the Pledge Day: At 7pm Eastern we set aside our differences and unite as one nation to stop what we’re doing, face the flag, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. […]