Press release
At 90-plus years of age Ruth Shelton has not lost her inquisitive mind and she will not stop researching until she finds the answer to her question. We at Rootseekers call her the “Bulldog”. Her questions are like who wrote the “Pledge of Allegiance”? Congressional sessions open with the recital of the Pledge, as do many government meetings at local levels, and meetings held by many private organizations. It is also commonly recited at the beginning of every school day. She found that George Beall Balch born January 8, 1821 in Shelbyvill, Tennessee died April 18, 1908 in Raleigh, North Carolina wrote the Pledge in 1887. He was an admiral in the United States Navy and served during the Mexican-American War, Expedition to Japan, and American Civil War. He served from 1837 to 1883. He felt strongly that an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States should be expressed by those who fought so hard to uphold its laws.
We all know that Frances Scott Key wrote the “Star Spangled Banner,” but do we know who made the flag that he gazed upon while writing the song? Mary young Pickersgill born February 12, 1776 died October 4, 1857 was the maker of the Star Spangled Banner Flag hoisted over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. She learned her craft from her mother and in 1813 was commissioned by Major George Armistead to make a flag for Baltimore’s Fort McHenry that was so large that the British would have no trouble seeing it from a great distance. The flag was installed in August 1813, and a year later, during the Battle of Baltimore, Frances Scott Key could see the flag while negotiating a prisoner exchange aboard a British vessel, and was inspired to pen the words that became the United States National Anthem.
Have you ever wondered who wrote the American’s Creed? it was William Tyler Page born 1868 died October 19, 1942. In 1917 Page wrote the “America’s Creed” as a submission to a nationwide patriotic contest inspired by a fervor at the beginning of the American entry into the First World War, the goal of which was to have a concise but complete statement of American political faith. His submission was chosen in March 1918 above more than 3,000 other entries. A prize of $1,000 was given to Page which he in turn bought Liberty Bonds for the war effort and donated them to his church.
Most of us know the beginning of the “Preamble to the Constitution”, We the People, 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. Gouverneur Morris born January 31, 1752 was one of five delegates chosen to write the actual document we know as the Constitution. Written in August of 1787 from scratch and it was said he showed creativity and condensed thought.
Ruth always thinks outside the box and she had many more that was in her speech before Rootseekers in May. Ruth was born in Eustace, lived in Dallas and California from 1940-1986 then returned to the lake area. Ruth now lives in Crowley near her son. She has two grandsons and three great grandsons living in Ft. Worth.
Grace Donovan donated a book from the Colonial Dames showing the past presidents since its inception. Grace and Ruth are long time members of the Rootseekers Genealogy Society.