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S. 950
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Bright, Bryant, Verdin and S. Martin
Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1404vr14.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 21, 2014
Adopted by the Senate on February 5, 2014
Summary: Pledge of Allegiance
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/21/2014 Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 5)
1/21/2014 Senate Referred to Committee on Invitations
(Senate Journal-page 5)
2/4/2014 Senate Polled out of committee Invitations
(Senate Journal-page 17)
2/4/2014 Senate Committee report: Favorable Invitations
(Senate Journal-page 17)
2/5/2014 Senate Adopted (Senate Journal-page 34)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
POLLED OUT OF COMMITTEE
MAJORITY FAVORABLE
February 4, 2014
S. 950
S. Printed 2/4/14--S.
Read the first time January 21, 2014.
To whom was referred a Senate Resolution (S. 950) to recognize February 10, 2014, as the sixtieth anniversary of the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States, etc., respectfully
Has polled the Senate Resolution out majority favorable.
TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 10, 2014, AS THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADDITION OF THE WORDS "UNDER GOD" TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Whereas, it is entirely appropriate for the South Carolina Senate to pause in the carrying out of its duties to reflect that on February 10, 1954, U.S. Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan introduced a bill in the United States Congress to amend the Pledge of Allegiance by adding the words "under God" to the text of the pledge; and
Whereas, Senator Ferguson chose February 10, 1954, to introduce the bill because it was the five-year anniversary of the imprisonment of Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty of Hungary, who was imprisoned and tortured by Communists for his sermons exposing Communism's goal to eradicate all religion; and
Whereas, members of both political parties delivered speeches in Congress honoring Cardinal Mindszenty and emphasizing the threat posed to America by Communism; and
Whereas, upon introduction of the bill, Senator Ferguson commented, "I believe this modification of the pledge is important because it highlights one of the real fundamental differences between the free world and the Communist world, namely, belief in God." Further, he declared, "Our nation is founded on a fundamental belief in God, and the first and most important reason for the existence of our government is to protect the God-given rights of our citizens. Spiritual values are every bit as important to the defense and safety of our nation as are military and economic values"; and
Whereas, the vote to add "under God" to our country's Pledge of Allegiance was a unanimous one; and
Whereas, on February 7, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became convinced that adding the words "under God" to the pledge would be the right thing to do. Hearing Reverend George Docherty's Sunday sermon of that day, in which the pastor preached that the phrase "nation under God" was first used in the Gettysburg Address, persuaded the President that these words would be an appropriate enlargement of America's Pledge of Allegiance because freedom "is defined by a fundamental belief in God." On Flag Day, June 14, 1954, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the added phrase "under God" for the first time; and
Whereas, February 10, 1954, when "under God" was added to our country's Pledge of Allegiance, is one of numerous significant points in time that testify of, and bind us to, our history's Judeo-Christian heritage, and, as such, the date is worthy of honor. The members of the Senate therefore wish to recognize February 10, 2014, as the sixtieth anniversary of the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize February 10, 2014, as the sixtieth anniversary of the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States.
This web page was last updated on February 7, 2014 at 3:23 PM