Kids take the pledge

Associated Press

CHICAGO – With their country at war with terrorism, students across the United States simultaneously put their pencils down and their hands over their hearts Friday and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

For some students, the exercise was a chance to learn what the pledge means. Fourth-graders at Guiteras Memorial School in Bristol, R.I., spent the morning discussing the meaning of “allegiance” and “indivisible.”

“I think it’s for freedom. It means I promise to be a loyal American,” said Christian Babic, a fourth-grader who moved to the United States from his native Germany 18 months ago.

The voluntary exercise, held at 11 a.m. PDT and supported by Education Secretary Rod Paige, was started by Paula Burton, a retired teacher who has been holding an annual Pledge Across America for the past decade with only scattered participation until recently.

Burton said she had no idea how many schools participated this time, only that she was swamped with calls from teachers and principals.

“The response has been overwhelming,” said Burton, who runs the nonprofit group Celebration U.S.A. from her home in Villa Park, Calif.

At Grace Downing Elementary School in Runnemede, N.J., third-graders wore red shirts to recite the pledge, with second-graders in white and younger students in blue. They stood in formation, making the letters U-S-A, as parents – some with video cameras – watched.

“It’s a good reminder of what’s important in the world as opposed to what’s not,” said Donna Koss, 35, whose daughter Jennifer is a third-grader.

Jennifer’s classmate Amanda Negri joined with two friends and collected $43.60 for families of the World Trade Center victims – part of her thought that the pledge means to “be nice to each other.”