Hello,
As the 4th of July week end approaches, let us remember that our American Carpenter
ancestors strived to make a better life for themselves and their children here in the
USA.
I hope and pray that every one has a safe and Happy 4th of July!
John R. Carpenter
Please let us take the opportunity to review the following ...
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm
The Pledge of Allegiance
"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."
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/constitution.htm
The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
The Declaration of Independence (first paragraph and beginning of second paragraph)
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
http://www.military.com/Recruiting/Content/0,13898,rec_step08_swearing_in...
Those Carpenters who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces of the United States
of America swear an oath of allegiance.
The Oath of Enlistment (for enlistees):
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will
bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the
President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according
to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
The Oath of Office (for officers):
"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States,
as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic,
that I will bear true faith and allegiance tot he same; that I take this obligation
freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and
faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me
God."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office#United_States
The "Constitutional" oath all Federal officers (peace officers, federal
appointees and elected officials) take:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of
the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith
and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the
duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office#United_States
The oath of the President of the United States of America
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of
President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution of the United States."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_(United_States)
New citizens of the United States of America swear the following oath:
I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all
allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or
which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the
Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and
domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on
behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant
service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will
perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and
that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
so help me God.
Sources vary on Peace Officers oaths.
The state and local peace officers (police officers) oath varies from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction. Many include a provision supporting the city, county or state provisions in
addition to the basic oath below.
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office, and
that I will uphold and
defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic, so
help me God."
Here is an example from California Constitution ...
http://www.uhuh.com/constitution/calconst.htm
ARTICLE 20 MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS
[ Required Oath of Office ]
[ Source:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_20 ]
SEC. 3. Members of the Legislature, and all public officers and employees, executive,
legislative, and judicial, except such inferior officers and employees as may be by law
exempted, shall, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and
subscribe the following oath or affirmation:
"I, ___________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of
California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of
California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose
of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about
to enter.
"And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of
any party or organization, political or other- wise, that now advocates the overthrow of
the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or
other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this
oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or
other-wise, that advocated the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the
State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means except as follows:
All the above oaths are reflective of our Founding documents and the reference toward a
higher power than any human being.
Americans believe that these “truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights ...”
Ask yourself, will you “uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States from all
enemies, foreign and domestic”?
The answer should be an positive affirmation akin to “so help me God."