Cub Scouts are proud to be Americans. Check out this page to find out what we have learned about the United States Flag and the Wisconsin Flag. If you have a sound card and your Browser can play .wav files, you can join us in saying the "Pledge of Allegiance." When you say the Pledge of Allegiance, remember to stand at attention and to place your right hand over your heart (or give the military salute if you are in uniform). Also, check out our section on Flag Etiquette.
Pledge of Allegiance
The "Pledge of Allegiance" was written by Francis Bellamy and was first published in 1892.
The words "under God" were added on June 14, 1954. When pledging allegiance to the
flag, stand at attention and place your right have over your heart or, if in uniform (including
the Cub Scout uniform), give the military salute. Men who are not in uniform should remove
their hats. Click here to say the Pledge of Allegiance with us 
: "I pledge allegiance to the
flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all
About the United States Flag
Legend has it that Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag in May of 1776. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution that the flag of the Untied States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation. The stars on the first flag represented Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Geogia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. The Continental Congress defined the meaning of the colors of the flag as follows: "White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; and Blue, Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice." On April 4, 1818, Congress passed an Act which provided that the flag should have 13 stripes and that it should have one star for each state, to be added to the flag on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state. Wisconsin became a state in 1848. Wisconsin was the 30th state admitted to the Union and is represented by the 30th star on the flag.
About Wisconsin's State Flag
This is a picture of WISCONSIN'S state flag. The coat of arms of the State of Wisconsin appears on the flag. On the coat of arms is a sailor with a coil of rope and a "yeoman" (i.e., a miner) with a pick. The sailor and miner represent labor on land and water. The yeoman and sailor are holding a shield which has symbols for agriculture (i.e., a plow), mining (i.e., a pick and shovel), manufacturing (i.e., an arm and hammer), and navigation (i.e., an anchor). In the middle of the shield is a small U.S. coat of arms and the U.S. motto, "E pluribus unum" (i.e., "one out of many" referring to the union of U.S. states), to symbolize Wisconsin's loyalty to the Union. Below the shield, a cornucopia stands for prosperity and abundance, and a pyramid of 13 lead ingots represents mineral wealth and the 13 original U.S. states. Centered above the shield is a badger, the state animal, and the state motto "Forward" appears on a banner above the badger. The year that Wisconsin became a state, 1848, is written below the coat of arms.
Source: Wisconsin Blue Book 1995-1996, pages 356-357.
Flag Etiquette
General Display
Outside. Unless a flag will be illuminated during the hours of darkness, it is custom to display the flag outside on buildings and flagstaffs only during the hours between sunrise and sunset. A flag that will be illuminated during the hours of darkness may be displayed 24 hours a day. The flag should not be displayed when it is raining, sleeting or snowing unless an all weather flag is being used.
Position/Placement of Flag Outside on Flagpoles. If more than one flag or pennant will be flown on the same flag pole, the flag of the United States should always be at the top. If other flags or pennants are to be flown with the United States flag on separate flag staffs, the other flags or pennants should not be placed to the right of the United States flag (i.e., the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left). When the flags/pennants (other than flags of other nations) will be flown on separate flag poles, the flag of the United States should be raised first and lowered last.
When flags of two or more nations are displayed together, they are to be flown from separate flag poles of the same height. The flags should be the same size and flown at the same distance above the ground.
Display Against Walls, From Windows, etc. If the flag will be displayed with another flag against a wall with the staffs crossed, the United States flag should be on its own right (i.e., as you face the flag, the base of the staff of the United States flag will be on the observer's right and the top of the staff will be on the observer's left), and its staff should be in front of the other flag's staff.
When the flag is displayed horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union (i.e., the blue
part) should be uppermost and to the flag's own right (i.e., the observer's left). When
displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed with the union uppermost and to the left
of the observer in the street.
Distress Symbol. The flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a distress symbol.
Flag Ceremonies
When the flag will be displayed on a flagstaff, the flag should be raised "briskly" and lowered "ceremoniously." The flag should never be permitted to touch the ground.
Parades
When the flag is carried in a procession or with another flag or flags, the United States flag should be on the marching right (i.e., to the marcher's right) or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. When the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should give the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their hats with their right hands and hold their hats at their left shoulders with their hands over the heart.
Disposal
When a flag is worn out it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. Boy Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops, American Legion Posts and Veteran's of Foreign Wars Posts often hold flag disposal ceremonies. If you have a flag that is worn out, contact one of these groups in your area to see if your flag can be included in their next disposal ceremony.
Sources: "Our Flag," (Annin & Co., Verona, New Jersey c. 1978); "Flag of the United States," Encarta 96 Encyclopedia (Microsoft c. 1996); United States Flag Code (Public Law 94-344, 94th Congress, S.J. Res. 49).
Copyright 1998-2002, Pack 87, Cross Plains, Wisconsin. All rights reserved.
