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 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.
The Oath of Enlistment:
I do solemnly swear 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 the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Only a minority of American citizens have taken either of these oaths; those who have served in the military (always by choice since 1973, sometimes by draft prior to that point), or those who have made the conscious decision to become American citizens. A small number have made both oaths. Today is a celebration of the birthday of the country to which both of these oaths are dedicated. Remember today those who have chosen to become one of us, and those who are pledged to defend us. Not everyone can be with us today, because they are in Afghanistan or Iraq, fulfilling those oaths. Happy Independence Day to all Americans, wherever they may be, and Godspeed to those who are in harm's way.
(This post originally ran on July 4, 2003, in slightly modified form.)
posted on July 04, 2004 06:25 AM
