Happy Columbus Day

In the past, Columbus Day was just a day the bank and post office were closed. A couple of years ago when we were able to visit Columbus, Ohio on Columbus Day the day began to come alive to Little Man and me. Today we are learning

a bit more about this holiday that once filled Italian Americans with pride. It was a day for schoolchildren to honor a great explorer. "In 1892, the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus' voyage of discovery was such a big deal that there festivities in every state of the Union organized years in advance. But in 1992, the five hundredth anniversary was practically ignored, and Columbus and the other early explorers received far more condemnation for their actions that praise for their achievements." How to Raise an American by: Blythe and Winston

Did you know the Pledge of Allegiance was originally written by Francis Bellamy (a Baptist Minister) for schoolchildren to recite at the celebration in 1892? Twelve million children recited the Pledge for the first time on that day. Pretty neat, huh?

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.