There are American flags in each classroom of the school. How many of you realize this fact? To most students a flag is something we expect to find in a room. It is part of the furnishings. Yet the American flag is not only a "part of the room," it is a part of our lives.

Each student in this school is a citizen of the United States. This is an honor and a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Our country has a pledge of allegiance to this flag, and it certainly should be used far more frequently than it is at the present time.

All over the United States, whenever there is a large gathering of people, the first order of business, whether at a basketball game or a business meeting, is to rise and say the Pledge of Allegiance. This is not something of a limited scope: it is universal. The pledge unites all citizens into a single nation.

There is good reason why, at the beginning of homeroom period each morning, every homeroom group should start the day with this pledge. Some may think, or even say, "We don't have time. There's so much to do every day." There is only one answer to this. If you don't have time for your country, what do you have time for?

If every day you were given five minutes to think about your country, your mind would no doubt stray. Yet in a few seconds you can give this honor to our nation through the pledge. It's not long, it's not complicated, but it is important.

Here we have a land of opportunity, a land of liberty, with more rights and freedoms than are enjoyed by any other nation in the world. Why not show a little patriotism, a little interest in our nation by starting out each day with the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag?

Start next Monday morning. In every homeroom, as soon as the final bell has rung, rise and address our flag. What a wonderful way to start the day, paying honor to the symbol of this nation. After all, your country should rank second only to your God. What better way is there to show your loyalty to your country?

Let the flag be more than a decoration. Give it a definite and important place in your life.

A.B.