SJR 26-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  9:08:32 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 26, Recognizing June 14, 2014, as the 60th anniversary of the first recital of the United States Pledge of Allegiance with the words "under God." 9:08:51 AM RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, presented SJR 26 on behalf of Senator Coghill, prime sponsor. She said earlier in 2014, 30 other states passed resolutions that recognized February 10 as the sixtieth anniversary of the introduction of House Joint Resolution 243, which added the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. Under SJR 26, Alaska would recognize June 14, 2014, as the sixtieth anniversary of the first recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. She noted that June 14 is Flag Day in the United States. MS. MOSS relayed that the original Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a minister, whom she said "used the pledge as a symbol to all nations to pledge allegiance to their flags as individual countries." She said by 1923, the U.S. had been through World War I, and "they wanted to make the pledge more near and dear to Americans," so the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution had the Pledge of Allegiance changed to include "one nation." MS. MOSS stated that in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended a church where he heard Reverend George M. Docherty give a sermon about the pledge, during which the reverend pointed to Lincoln's repeated use of the phrase "under God," in the Gettysburg Address. She said Reverend Docherty was "pressing to see what was missing in this country during a time when ... 8 million people had already been killed under Communism." She referred to the penultimate sentence of the sermon, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: In this land, there is "neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female", for we are one nation indivisible under God, and humbly as God has given us the light we seek liberty and justice for all. MS. MOSS said the sermon inspired President Eisenhower to meet with Senator Homer S. Ferguson and Representative Charles G. Oakman, who introduced resolutions to the Senate and House, respectively, proposing to add "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. 9:12:23 AM MS. MOSS indicated that the history of the Pledge of Allegiance does not give "the human touch to reciting the pledge." She continued as follows: Recognizing the history of the pledge reminds us that it has a deep, independent meaning for each and every one of us. It's not a mundane verse that we have memorized because we've recited it every day in school. It reminds us that we live in a country that doesn't persecute us, because we pledged to preserve the God-given, inherent rights this country was founded in. It reminds us that we are a government of 50 individual states who are united as a nation of free people. It reminds us that this flag, Old Glory, has [been] carried through battlefields, and blood has been shed by millions to protect the freedom that we have to speak our minds and disagree with each other, without the threat of retaliation. It reminds us that people from all over the world come to our country at a risk to live the American dream. When I stand in the gallery at the Senate Chambers and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, with a room full of citizens and the Senators, what I hear is group of Americans, united, ... indivisible in preserving this Republic and the God-given rights our Forefathers strived to preserve. This resolution is yet one reminder that we are Americans united as one nation, under God. MS. MOSS said the words, "under God," were added on June 14, 1954, during the Cold War, as a way to distinguish the United States from communism. On that day, President Eisenhower signed the change into law and declared, "From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim, in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth on each school morning to our country's true meaning." MS. MOSS imparted that as a teenager in the 1960s, she heard a comment made by comedian Red Skelton, regarding the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. [The words, as follows, are from the committee handout, original punctuation provided]: 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 be eliminated from school. MS. MOSS said currently there is a court case challenging the use of "under God" as a prayer. She said the court decision will be made "any day." She said the proposed resolution is being used by states all across the country "to preserve history so that courts can't change history." 9:15:53 AM CHAIR LYNN stated that the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation [given on the House floor] are the most comforting parts of his day. He talked about being reminded of "why we are here." He opined, "The whole process is all messed up, but it's the best in the world; the best we'll ever have." He stated support for SJR 26. He mention the former way of pledging allegiance by holding one hand up and forward, followed by the current method of holding the hand over the heart [depicted in the committee packet]. 9:17:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON expressed thanks for the booklet that includes all the information of the committee packet, and he questioned whether it could be made available to those who would like a copy. He indicated that some of the history might be found on line under procon.org. He mentioned the recent lawsuits against including "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. He said he appreciated remarks by President Ronald Reagan encouraging every Native born United States citizen to attend an immigration ceremony or speak to those immigrants who have become a citizen by choice, because doing so would renew the country's desire to preserve peace for another 200 years. Representative Isaacson said he has had the opportunity to witness the moment when people have abandoned one citizenship to become a citizen of the U.S. He said doing so may seem crazy to most, but some are seeking a better life and see the U.S. as a better place. He said it has helped him question why he should ever become complacent about his own citizenship. He opined that the proposed legislation helps people remember the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance as a means of remembering those who have given their lives to protect the U.S. 9:20:20 AM CHAIR LYNN acknowledged Representative Isaacson's statement. He said his second child married a woman from China, and it took her five years to get her citizenship, and he said he was honored to be present at her citizenship ceremony, which he described as "uplifting." 9:21:07 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER said yesterday he gave the invocation on the House floor. He expressed his appreciation to the bill sponsor for bringing SJR 26 forward. He stated that the concept of "under God" goes back to the country's beginning. He said the Declaration of Independence refers to people being created equal, a creator endowing us with individual rights, and a supreme judge of the world. He said the signers of the Declaration of Independence were at risk for becoming criminals, but firmly relied on divine providence. He explained that he wanted the record to reflect that reference to God was part of the foundation of the U.S. and "is consistent throughout." 9:22:52 AM CHAIR LYNN directed attention to a "whereas" clause on page 2, lines 15-16, which read as follows: WHEREAS it is the policy of the legislature to recognize and honor important dates that strengthen the ties of history and bind us to our Christian heritage; CHAIR LYNN said he would like to see "Christian" changed to "Judeo-Christian", because the Bible is split into the Old Testament, which is Jewish, and the New Testament, which is Christian. He asked if the prime sponsor would object to that change. 9:23:56 AM MS. MOSS offered her understanding that the prime sponsor would strongly oppose such an amendment, because he feels strongly that the United States was established under Christian principles and, thus, the language should reflect that. CHAIR LYNN asked for comments from the committee. 9:24:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER stated that he would like to "honor the perspective of the sponsor." 9:24:34 AM REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON said he appreciates the comment from Chair Lynn about including Judaism. He continued as follows: Definitely, the heritage of Christianity flows from the ... similar belief of the one true God, almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, which was affirmed in Jewish tradition. But it was even before the Jews, Adam had that personal relationship, so you could say it's a biblical faith, of which Christianity is definitely the proud banner carrier of that ... faith. REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON opined that honoring the wishes of the prime sponsor would still incorporate the rich heritage that Chair Lynn mentioned. 9:25:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES said, "To me, Judeo-Christian encompasses Christian, as well." She asked if there had been a conversation with the prime sponsor, in which he had specifically said he did not want to use the term. MS. MOSS answered that there had been several discussions to broadening the language, even to include Muslim. She said, "He feels very strongly that ... he doesn't want this to be the slippery slope; he wants it to be a Christian heritage." 9:26:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER stated that the government, with its checks and balances reflects the Christian heritage more than Judaism. He referred to a famous painting of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and said, "No doubt, it was a group of Christian folks that were there." He stated that the influence of Christianity on the government system is "profound and deep." He reiterated that he concurs with keeping the language in the proposed joint resolution as is. 9:27:07 AM CHAIR LYNN responded, "Of course, we're not talking about the people who landed here; we're talking about the heritage." 9:27:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS stated that while she can appreciate the conversation, her concern is that "we'll get into something that is not what the bill sponsor really wanted to celebrate in these 60 years." 9:28:14 AM CHAIR LYNN restated his preference for the use of "Judeo- Christian," but acknowledged that he was outnumbered; therefore, he said would not offer an amendment. MS. MOSS said she would pass that information on to the prime sponsor. 9:28:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report SJR 26 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 26 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.