Oklahoma students participate in Pledge across America

Tuesday was Constitution Day. More than 100,000 schools across the nation marked the day by participating in the "Pledge Across America". <br><br>News on Six Reporter Patrina Adger visited a Tulsa school

Tuesday, September 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tuesday was Constitution Day. More than 100,000 schools across the nation marked the day by participating in the "Pledge Across America".

News on Six Reporter Patrina Adger visited a Tulsa school that participated. Students at Waite Phillips Elementary School filed into the gymnasium with their patriotic flags; ready to take the oath to America.

"Every child in America has the privilege of saluting the flag that stands for their country of freedom for all. Please join me in singing the national anthem to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands." President Bush recited the pledge with elementary students in Tennessee and millions of students throughout the country during a synchronized Pledge to America marking Constitution Day.

It started six years ago in an effort to educate these young minds about the document that guarantees their freedoms. Waite Phillips School principal Jane Looney says the school tries to do just that - by teaching youngsters about government at a young age. "They will study the preamble to the constitution, the constitution itself, the making of the new government. We have our own little voting that we do so they can see what a citizenship is like. They feel it, not at the level of an adult but they're part of it."

Kourtney Mayfield: 10 years old, "It means a lot to me, it means our country was at war and we won." Deseree Jones: 10 years old, "I can wake up and go to school. I'm just happy to be in America." AJ Munoz: 11 years old, â€œIt means freedom to me. I wake up every morning feeling free."

This is the first year the nation recited the pledge simultaneously.