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May 1942. "Southington, Connecticut. Schoolchildren pledging allegiance to the flag." Photo by Fenno Jacobs for the Office of War Information. View full size.
Several other photos taken in Southington, by Fenno Jacobs, during his May, 1942 visit, of a flag-raising, and of school-kids using this salute, were clearly taken on the modest north lawn of the Milldale School, (1922-c.1995), in the south-central end of town. This school was located at the junction of Clark, Norton & S. Main Streets.
My own very first school recess was conducted on the same spot, in Sept., 1954. First Graders, we joined hands in performing the old round "Did You Ever See a Lassie." At that time, a large addition was being built onto the school, and the flagpole had been moved to a different spot.
This is the exact location in the Jacobs photo, (the kids were on the left side, in front of the windows), this taken in April, 1995, shortly before the place was demolished. I have been told that the clock was saved.
About a month ago, I was fortunate enough to be a guest at an elementary school assembly in Chihuahua, Mexico. There, a young child stood in front of the Mexican flag and extended her hand, palm down, slightly upraised. She began the pledge and her classmates did as she did, and pledged,too. It was altogether touching, once I got over the initial surprise.
I have never seen anyone in the USA performing such a salute while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and I'm nearly sixty. I have only seen Americans putting their right hands over their hearts when saying the Pledge.
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