Res 02-105RESOLUTION NO. 02-105
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA
APPROVING SUPPORT FOR THE EXISTING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
WHEREAS, this country was founded on religious freedom by founders,
many of whom were deeply religious; and
WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution embodies principles
intended to guarantee freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof
and by prohibiting the government establishing a religion; and
WHEREAS, the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a
Baptist Minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892, issue of the
Youth's Companion; and
WHEREAS, Congress in 1954 added the words "under God" to the Pledge
of Allegiance; and
WHEREAS, the Pledge of Allegiance has for almost 50 years included
references to the U.S. flag, the country, to our country having been established
as a union "under God" and to this country being dedicated to securing "liberty
and justice for all"; and
WHEREAS, the Congress in 1954 believed it was acting constitutionally
when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Poway recites the Pledge at the beginning of each
regular meeting and the City of Poway believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is
not an unconstitutional expression of patriotism or establishment of religion; and
WHEREAS, patriotic songs, engravings on U.S. legal tender, engravings
on Federal buildings also contain general references to "God"; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court,
public school students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without
violating their First Amendment rights, nor are attendees at City meetings
compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or all parts thereof; and
WHEREAS, the City of Poway supports Congress' request that the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rehear the case of Newdow v. U.S.
Congress, en banc.
Resolution No. 02-105
Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council does hereby resolve that the City of
Poway strongly supports the existing Pledge of Allegiance, which includes the
reference "under God".
PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of
Poway, State of California, this 17th day of September 2002.
ATTEST: ~
LSri Anne Peoples, Cit~ Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) ss
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, Lori Anne Peoples, City Clerk of the City of Poway, do hereby certify, under
penalty of perjury, that the foregoing Resolution No. 02-105 , was duly adopted
by the City Council at a meeting of said City Council held on the 17th day of
September 2002, and that it was so adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
GOLDBY, HIGGINSON, REXFORD, CAFAGNA
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: EMERY
Lori Anne People~, City Clerk
City of Poway