Prerequisite: None

Time: As Required

Before the Meeting: Be ready with a thought for the group; try to incorporate the theme of the meeting.

1. Have ready a brief thought or saying in line with the theme of the meeting to inspire the group. Remember this is not a religious organization and the invocation should not sound like a prayer, in deference to the varied beliefs of our members.
2. When called upon, stand at your place and say to the guests and members, "Please stand, face the flag, and join me in the pledge of allegiance." Turn and face the flag, place your hand over your heart and lead the group in the pledge by saying, "Ready, begin".
3. When finished, be seated. It is not necessary to return control to the President.

NOTE: The original pledge of allegiance to the flag was written by Francis Bellamy and was used at the dedication of the Chicago World’s Fair Grounds in 1892. Congress officially approved the pledge on December 28, 1945. On Flag Day, June 14, 1954, President Eisenhower signed a law adding the words "under God."

The addition of these two words to a pledge already well memorized by Americans created a minor problem in its recitation. Everyone who knew the pledge in its original form ignored the punctuation and spoke the words "under God" as though they had been tacked on. This peculiar emphasis has been passed along to everyone who has learned the pledge since.

The pledge now reads:

"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."

Note that commas set off the complete phrase "one nation under God". There is no comma after the word "nation."

Therefore, the pledge should not be spoken this way: "...one nation...(pause)...under God..."

Rather this way: "...and to the Republic for which it stands (pause), one nation under God (pause), indivisible (pause), with liberty and justice for all."

Most organizations and groups you visit will recite the pledge improperly, and it is doubtful that this habit can be corrected in this generation. But bring these facts to people’s attention at every opportunity you can, and certainly, in your Toastmasters club, speak it as it is written.