Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It began as "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands - one nation indivisible - with liberty and justice for all," said former Indiana governor Dr. Otis R. Bowen of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Bowen addressed guests of American Legion Post 49's annual Veterans Day Program in the Center Lake Pavilion Thursday.
A U.S. Navy World War II veteran, "Doc" talked about his family's military service and his own experiences as a corpsman in the Pacific Theatre. Ever the educator, Bowen gave a brief history about the Pledge of Allegiance and the role Indiana-born President Benjamin Harrison had in its national adoption.
First published in 1892 in Youths' Companion, a Boston magazine, the Francis Bellamy composition was recited by schoolchildren during the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World.
During World War I, interest increased in the pledge. Because there were so many immigrant schoolchildren who still looked to other countries as their home, in 1923 the clarifying phrase "to the flag of the United States of America" was added.
The words "one nation under God" were originally proposed by Paul DeBolt of the Winchester, Ind., American Legion, Bowen said. It caught on with the Knights of Columbus and was approved by Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954.
The annual Veterans Day program included a posting of the colors, the tolling of the bells - 14 times for the 14 major conflicts fought by Americans. Roll calls of deceased American Legion Post 49 members and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1126 were read followed by a firing squad salute and "Taps."
Music was provided by the Warsaw Community High School band.
Other speakers included Bob Morrison, who recognized Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine; Lake City Painting owner Jason Waddle; Veterans Affairs officer Mike Barnett; 1st Source trust officer John Elliott; and Teresa Smith of the Times-Union for putting duty, honor and country first.
Ken Locke talked about the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the M3A3 Stuart light tank on the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn. He thanked World War II veterans Charles Bertsch and Bruce Howe for donating the marker by the tank.
