1Recognizing February 10, 2014, as the 60th anniversary of the
2addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance
3of the United States.

4WHEREAS, The Founders of the United States of America
5observed, in the Declaration of Independence, the self-evident
6truth that rights of life and liberty are an endowment from our
7Creator; and

8WHEREAS, The people of this Commonwealth have affirmed, in
9the Constitution of Pennsylvania, their belief in God and their
10thanksgiving for His blessings of civil and religious liberty;
11and

12WHEREAS, On February 7, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
13came to the conviction that adding the words "under God" to the
14Pledge of Allegiance of the United States would be the right
15thing to do after hearing Reverend George Docherty preach that
16the phrase "nation under God," which was first used in the

1Gettysburg Address, was appropriate to be added to the Pledge of
2Allegiance because freedom "is defined by a fundamental belief
3in God"; and

4WHEREAS, On February 10, 1954, Senator Homer Ferguson of
5Michigan introduced a bill in the United States Senate to amend
6the Pledge of Allegiance by adding the words "under God" to the
7text of the pledge; and

8WHEREAS, February 10, 1954, was chosen as the date to
9introduce the bill by Senator Ferguson because it was the fifth
10anniversary of the imprisonment of Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty of
11Hungary, who was imprisoned and tortured by Communists for his
12sermons exposing the goal of communism to eradicate all
13religion; and

14WHEREAS, Upon introduction of the bill, Senator Ferguson
15commented, "Our nation is founded on a fundamental belief in
16God, and the first and most important reason for the existence
17of our government is to protect the God-given rights of our
18citizens. Spiritual values are every bit as important to the
19defense and safety of our nation as are military and economic
20values"; and

21WHEREAS, The vote to add "under God" to the Pledge of
22Allegiance was a unanimous vote; and

23WHEREAS, The first time the revised Pledge of Allegiance was
24recited was on Flag Day, June 14, 1954; and

25WHEREAS, It is the policy of the House of Representatives to
26recognize and honor such an important date, which strengthens
27the ties of history that bind us to our Judeo-Christian
28heritage; therefore be it

29RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, with due
30reverence to the Almighty, recognize February 10, 2014, as the

160th anniversary of the addition of the words "under God" to the
2Pledge of Allegiance of the United States.