Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga, in a memorandum, dated Jan. 4, 2024 has proposed that “DOE initiate a daily standard practice of assembling students to witness the raising of the flags, reciting the pledge of allegiance, and singing the national anthems of both the US and American Samoa.”

Of his proposal, the governor noted that “pride in our nation and pride in ourselves go hand in hand.

“These are lessons we should learn at home and at school from a very early age.

“A strong sense of pride fosters compassion towards one another and creating upstanding members of society that will have a full appreciation of the freedoms we hold dear.”

He noted that if rainy or inclement weather occurs, “it is acceptable to defer reciting the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms.”

Today, in the US, the pledge of the allegiance is not usually enforced in classrooms across the nation, whereas once it was a school requirement to start the school day.  The pledge is a patriotic recited verse that promises allegiance to the flag of the US and the republic of the USA.

One of Samoa News employees remembers reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school in the morning before classes began, during the late 60s early 70s, but does not remember when the event was discontinued.

It was first written in 1885 by a Union Army officer in the Civil War, but was revised in 1892 for a promotional campaign that celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.

It is the revised verse that was formally adopted by the US Congress 50 years later, in 1942, with its official name, “The Pledge of Allegiance” adopted in 1945. On June 14, 1954, the words “under God” were added to the official verse.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag is as follows: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

It is usually rendered by standing up, facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.

For American Samoa, a prayer with a religious song will probably continue to be a part of the daily morning routine, along with flag raising and the Pledge.