roger.pape Site Admin
Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Posts: 414 Location: Liverpool, NY
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject: Saluting the flag |
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(Originally posted February 19, 2009)
Various people have commented about the extended arm salute, seen in the movie clip of the school picnic at Southside Park (St. Paul's School). Many of us old-timers surely remember opening the school day with the Pledge of Allegiance while saluting the flag. It was not just a “German thing”. You can also see it in the movie clip of the Rural Schools. This salute was recommended by Frances Bellamy when he wrote the Pledge in 1892. Actually, the palm of the hand was supposed to be facing up but, because this was awkward, most left the palm face down without twisting the arm.
When did the practice of placing your hand over your heart begin in Concordia? Supposedly, the hand-over-heart gesture was instituted at FDR’s request when the Flag Code of 1942 officially adopted the Pledge. (This was because of the similarity of the Bellamy salute to the Nazi salute.) Although I don’t know the date for sure, Dad’s movie of the school picnic was probably taken during 1942. Maybe someone can recognize what class they were in when that picnic took place. However, I seem to remember that we continued the salute later than that. I do recall being told that we had to change. Maybe I’m wrong about the timing. Does anyone else remember the change? |
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