Red Skelton's Commentary on the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance As a schoolboy in Vincennes, Indiana, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. He later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own. I Me; an individual; a committee of one. Pledge Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity. Allegiance My love and my devotion. To the Flag Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of courage; and wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, "Freedom is everybody's job." United That means that we have all come together. States Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country... of America. And to the Republic Republic--a sovereign state in which power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people. For which it stands One Nation meaning, so blessed by God. Indivisible Incapable of being divided. With Liberty Which is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation. And Justice The principle, and qualities, of dealing fairly with others. For All For All--that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine. And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too? -- Red Skelton Click on the flag above to hear Red Skelton recite his Pledge of Allegiance.  Red Skelton was a great comedian, Shrine Clown, and human being. We could all learn a lot from him. A "Pledge" is something to take seriously, as he points out. Another pledge he obviously KEPT was to make people smile... in his memory, we should strive to do the same. THE FOLLOWING WAS RETYPED from the Oct/Nov 97 issue of "Clown Alley" Noble Red Skelton was born into a circus family on July 18, 1913 in Vincennes, Indiana two months after the death of his father who had been a clown with the Haggenbach and Wallace travelling shows. Red was raised by his mother in the love of the circus people who were to become his first real family, leaving an imprint on him that he would carry throughout his life, bringing happiness and laughter to millions. At age 10, Red joined up with a travelling medicine show. From there, minstrel and tent shows, circuses, burlesques, Mississippi show boats, vaudeville, radio, motion pictures and television were to become his home. It was as a star in in over 48 motion pictures and television that Red was to achieve his greatest public acclaim. His TV career spanned a record twenty consecutive years and his shows were always rated among the top ten in the United Sates. Red's lesser known but equally outstanding accomplishments include the writing of nearly 5,000 musical compositions, including 64 symphonies, many of which have been played and recorded by Arthur Fiedler, Van Cliburn, David Rose, the Las Vegas Symphony, the Palm Springs Desert Symphony, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Noble Red has authored more than 4,000 short stories and full length books. His Skelton's "Pledge of Allegiance (above) has won 42 awards and has twice been read into the Congressional Record. In addition to being an accomplished entertainer, Noble Red is acclaimed as one of his century's greatest painters. His original oil paintings are displayed exclusively at Center Art Galleries, Honolulu, Hawaii, where they have been received with great acclaim by art critics and collectors from all over the world. Evocative of a bygone era, Red's clowns are welcome guests in homes worldwide, where you are continually reminded that the appeal of these fine character studies knows no bounds. Collectors include the rich and famous and those for whom the ownership of a painting by Red Skelton is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. Past ISCA President John Whipple has a number of original paintings. While all artists attempt to capture emotions in their works, Red has succeeded in doing so to a degree unique in contemporary history. We are all reminded of happier days, no matter which generation of fans we belong to. It hardly matters if we first saw Red perform, in the vaudeville of the thirties, in the films of the forties and fifties, on night club stages in the sixties, college stages of the seventies, or on HBO in the eighties, Red has been part of all of the lives of we ISCA clowns, and his painting and graphics allow us to be sure that he will be our guest in our homes for years to come. Picasso once said that he had spent his entire life trying to recapture the innocence and sensitivity of a child. Red Skelton never lost it. RED SKELTON'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OF SHRINEDOM Red Skelton has wholeheartedly been behind the Shriner's Hospitals for many, many years. Most of our Hospitals have received his clown artwork and have it displayed for all to enjoy. Through his skits and artwork, the clowns of the International Shrine Clown Association have been inspired. No matter where you go across North America, clowns of the ISCA are doing their version of Red's comedy work. Many of us have been fortunate to be invited to entertain at Red's birthday parties and what an inspiration he has been to all of us. Lot of Red's donated artwork, books, memorabilia, music, etc, have been auctioned in some fashion or other, with the proceeds contributing to the ISCA Sneaker Fund of which Noble Red is an Honorary Member. The International Shrine Clown Association has been in the habit of contributing over $250,000 every year to the Shriner's Hospital Research Program through the Sneaker Fund, and we thank Red for his part in our contributions. Good bye Red from all your fellow Noble clowns of the ISCA. Good nite, Good bye and God Bless.

Red Skelton's
Commentary on the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance

As a schoolboy in Vincennes, Indiana, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. He later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.

Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge

Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance

My love and my devotion.

To the Flag

Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of courage; and wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, "Freedom is everybody's job."

United

That means that we have all come together.

States

Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country... of America.

And to the Republic

Republic--a sovereign state in which power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands

One Nation

meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible

Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty

Which is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.

And Justice

The principle, and qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All

For All--that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

-- Red Skelton

Click on the flag above to hear Red Skelton recite his Pledge of Allegiance.

Red Skelton was a great comedian, Shrine Clown, and human being. We could all learn a lot from him. A "Pledge" is something to take seriously, as he points out. Another pledge he obviously KEPT was to make people smile... in his memory, we should strive to do the same.

THE FOLLOWING WAS RETYPED from the Oct/Nov 97 issue of "Clown Alley"

Noble Red Skelton was born into a circus family on July 18, 1913 in Vincennes, Indiana two months after the death of his father who had been a clown with the Haggenbach and Wallace travelling shows. Red was raised by his mother in the love of the circus people who were to become his first real family, leaving an imprint on him that he would carry throughout his life, bringing happiness and laughter to millions.

At age 10, Red joined up with a travelling medicine show. From there, minstrel and tent shows, circuses, burlesques, Mississippi show boats, vaudeville, radio, motion pictures and television were to become his home. It was as a star in in over 48 motion pictures and television that Red was to achieve his greatest public acclaim. His TV career spanned a record twenty consecutive years and his shows were always rated among the top ten in the United Sates.

Red's lesser known but equally outstanding accomplishments include the writing of nearly 5,000 musical compositions, including 64 symphonies, many of which have been played and recorded by Arthur Fiedler, Van Cliburn, David Rose, the Las Vegas Symphony, the Palm Springs Desert Symphony, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Noble Red has authored more than 4,000 short stories and full length books. His Skelton's "Pledge of Allegiance (above) has won 42 awards and has twice been read into the Congressional Record.

In addition to being an accomplished entertainer, Noble Red is acclaimed as one of his century's greatest painters. His original oil paintings are displayed exclusively at Center Art Galleries, Honolulu, Hawaii, where they have been received with great acclaim by art critics and collectors from all over the world.

Evocative of a bygone era, Red's clowns are welcome guests in homes worldwide, where you are continually reminded that the appeal of these fine character studies knows no bounds. Collectors include the rich and famous and those for whom the ownership of a painting by Red Skelton is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. Past ISCA President John Whipple has a number of original paintings.

While all artists attempt to capture emotions in their works, Red has succeeded in doing so to a degree unique in contemporary history. We are all reminded of happier days, no matter which generation of fans we belong to. It hardly matters if we first saw Red perform, in the vaudeville of the thirties, in the films of the forties and fifties, on night club stages in the sixties, college stages of the seventies, or on HBO in the eighties, Red has been part of all of the lives of we ISCA clowns, and his painting and graphics allow us to be sure that he will be our guest in our homes for years to come.

Picasso once said that he had spent his entire life trying to recapture the innocence and sensitivity of a child.

Red Skelton never lost it.

RED SKELTON'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OF SHRINEDOM

Red Skelton has wholeheartedly been behind the Shriner's Hospitals for many, many years. Most of our Hospitals have received his clown artwork and have it displayed for all to enjoy. Through his skits and artwork, the clowns of the International Shrine Clown Association have been inspired. No matter where you go across North America, clowns of the ISCA are doing their version of Red's comedy work.

Many of us have been fortunate to be invited to entertain at Red's birthday parties and what an inspiration he has been to all of us. Lot of Red's donated artwork, books, memorabilia, music, etc, have been auctioned in some fashion or other, with the proceeds contributing to the ISCA Sneaker Fund of which Noble Red is an Honorary Member. The International Shrine Clown Association has been in the habit of contributing over $250,000 every year to the Shriner's Hospital Research Program through the Sneaker Fund, and we thank Red for his part in our contributions.

Good bye Red from all your fellow Noble clowns of the ISCA.

Good nite, Good bye and God Bless.