Flag Salutes & the National Anthem

Flag Salutes

During some district events and daily in our schools, someone will lead the US flag salute. At least weekly, schools will conduct the Oklahoma Flag Salute. Participation is voluntary, and those who choose not to participate should not behave in a distracting manner to those who do choose to participate. Typically, an announcement such as, "Please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance," will begin the short ceremony. Those who can stand and direct their attention to the nearest or most prominent flag. Uniformed personnel give the appropriate formal salute. Others remove any hats and place their right hand over their heart, and recite the pledge in unison.

American Flag Salute - The Pledge of Allegiance 

A pledge of allegiance began unofficially in 1885, with a version written by Civil War Union Captain George Thatcher Balch, who felt it was important to teach patriotism in public schools. His version read “We give our heads and our hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag.” 

This version was replaced in popularity by one written in 1892 by Christian socialist, Baptist minister, and author, Francis Bellamy. His version was much closer to the modern pledge, reading, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” 

Over the next fifty years, it underwent some revisions and was officially adopted by congress in 1942, then reading, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 

In 1954, the phrase "under God" was added, completing the modern Pledge listed below. Line breaks show the typical rhythm with which it is usually spoken.    

"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."

Oklahoma Flag Salute

Oklahoma first adopted a state flag salute in 1982, as part of the state's 75th anniversary celebration. During the Oklahoma flag salute, instead of holding the right hand over the heart, it is held palm upward toward the flag with the elbow close to the waist. 

"I salute the Flag of the State of Oklahoma.
Its symbols of peace unite all people."

 

National Anthem and State Song

Many of our events, most typically athletic competitions, begin with the National Anthem. As with the flag salutes, those who can stand and direct their attention to the nearest or most prominent flag. Uniformed personnel give the appropriate formal salute. Others remove any hats and place their right hand over their heart. Often, spectators join in the singing of the national anthem. Out of respect for those participating, there is an expectation of silence other than the singing of the anthem.

National Anthem

The Star-Spangled Banner is a combination of an 1814 poem titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry" by lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key and the tune of a popular song from the 1770s "To Anacreon in Heaven" by British composer, John Stafford Smith. It was officially adopted as the national anthem by the US Congress in 1931.

The four verses of the Star-Spangled Banner are listed below. Typically, only the first verse of the National Anthem is performed. 

"O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
⁠What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
⁠O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the Rockets' red glare, the Bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there;
⁠O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,
⁠O'er the Land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
⁠Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
⁠As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream,
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
⁠That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
⁠Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,
⁠Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land,
⁠Praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto—"In God is our Trust;"
⁠And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."

The Oklahoma State Song

Following the National Anthem, the Oklahoma state song is often performed. Generally, spectators remain standing, often clapping in rhythm and singing along.

Oklahoma's first state song "Oklahoma - A Toast" was adopted in 1935. The lyrics of its refrain are, "I give you a land of sun and flowers, and summer a whole year long, I give you a land where the golden hours roll by to the mockingbird's song, Where the cotton blooms 'neath the southern sun, where the vintage hangs thick on the vine. A land whose story has just begun. This wonderful land of mine." 

In 1953, this song was replaced as the official state song by "Oklahoma!" which comes from the 1943 Rogers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. 

"Oklahoma,Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain(And the wavin' wheatCan sure smell sweetWhen the wind comes right behind the rain)Oklahoma!Every night my honey lamb and ISit alone and talkAnd watch a hawkMakin' lazy circles in the sky.We know we belong to the land,And the land we belong to is grand.And when we say;Ee-ee-ow! A-yip-i-o-ee-ay!We're only sayin',You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!Oklahoma, O.K.!"

Stillwater High School Song

At many events, we'll include the SHS school song at the start of the activities. 

"Stillwater High united, working together,
We’ll never ever fail you,
Victory will be ours, Rah! Rah!
The school we will love forever,
True to our gold and blue,
March on you Pioneers for S-H-S!

Stillwater High, our gold and blue,
To you our colors will be true.
We’ve got that pep,
Just watch us fight,
We’ll have a victory tonight.
Our praise to you, our Pioneers,
We’ll stand behind you win or lose.
Just watch our team
Break through the line.
Stillwater High you’re doin’ fine!"

Hear the SHS Band perform it here.