This month, originally called Quintilis, was renamed for Julius Caesar when he died. It was his birth month and originally the fifth month of the calendar.

July is a month of celebrations: Independence Day (4th) when the US declared independence from British rule, National Ice Cream Day (18th), World Chocolate Day (7th), National French Fry Day (13th) and National Hot Dog Month.

Happy Birthday America! and to the many Time To Travel members celebrating birthdays this month. We’ll be enjoying July with a campout at Challis Hot Springs, a long established park sold to the State of Idaho by the Hammond family just one year ago. Be sure to bring your swimming suit to soak in these incredible springs, a gathering point for that community for over 100 years.

As we enjoy this month’s fun, let’s celebrate and remember why we are free people in a free country. And let’s remember what we promise when we honor our flag.

Here is a copy of a vintage presentation of The Pledge of Allegiance as interpreted by Red Skelton (with a few updates). Can’t you just hear him saying it?

I: Me, an individual, a committee of one
PLEDGE: dedicate all my worldly goods to give without self pity.
ALLEGIANCE: my love and devotion
TO THE FLAG: our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom… loyalty…everybody’s job.
OF THE UNITED: …we have all come together.
STATES: individual communities that have united into 50 great states… with pride and dignity and with a common purpose.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC: … when sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. Government is the people and it’s from the people to the leaders, NOT from the leaders to the people.
FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD: so blessed by God.
INDIVISIBLE: incapable of being divided.
WITH LIBERTY: … the right of power to live one’s own life without threats, fear or retaliation.
AND JUSTICE: the principle… of dealing fairly with others.
FOR ALL: which means…it’s as much your country as it is mine.

Suzanne