   "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."The Pledge of Allegiance received official recognition by Congress in an Act approved on June 22, 1942. However, the pledge was first published in 1892 in the Youth's Companion magazine in Boston, Massachusetts to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America, and was first used in public schools to celebrate Columbus Day on October 12, 1892. In its original version, the pledge read "my flag" instead of "the flag of the United States." the change in the wording was adopted by the National Flag Conference in 1923. The rationale for the change was that it prevented ambiguity among foreign-born children and adults who might have the flag of their native land in mind when reciting the pledge. The phrase "under God" was added to the pledge by a Congressional act approved on June 14, 1954. At that time, President Eisenhower said: "in this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war." ************************************************************ We support our men and women soldiers, wherever they are, around the world, many 'in harm's way' and pray for their safe return to families and friends. Each and every day, we proudly fly the American Flag outside our home, weather permitting, in recognition of the sacrifices made, and still being made, by Americans in the cause of Freedom. On 'special' holidays, we fly an American Flag that formerly (2006) flew over a wartime American Military Base in Iraq - compliments of our US Navy Seabee friend and toy train buddy Lance Prucnal. Recently, we came across a truly moving narration written by John Mitchum and recited by John Wayne called 'America..Why I Love Her' that includes a truly remarkable photo essay... Thank you....and May God always bless AMERICA. ************************************************************ A little bit about READY MADE TRAINS® brand of toy trains… Ready Made Trains® began with my enjoyment of toy trains that started over 50 years ago, when, as a child, I received my first toy train set for Christmas. I still have that original Marx Southern Pacific diesel freight set! Over the years my train interests grew to include prototype railroads. This knowledge added to the overall toy train interest and it has been incorporated into each RMT® product made today...BEEP®s, CABOOSE®s, BUDDY®s, BEEF®s, PEEP®s, BEEPeople®, BANG®s, COAL/ORE/BOPPER® Covered Hopper Sets, Freight Cars, SuperSnap® Track, Accessories and more. RMT® is only a small toy train company. Our trains feature quality, durability, realistic pricing and fun. Best of all, you can share your toy train hobby with children. Great for those small hands to learn about the toy trains we grew up with. Easy to operate and with a multitude of roadnames in those colorful paint schemes we remember. My grandchildren really enjoy watching the BEEP®s run around our Halloween and Christmas layouts and I do not have a problem letting them run the trains with me. There is a magic about toy trains that will endure the test of time. We live on our family farm in rural Northwestern New Jersey. For many years, this land has been a productive part of the Garden State. Since the 1930s, the number of family farms has been declining rapidly. According to the USDA, 5.3 million farms dotted the nation in 1950, but this number had declined to 2.1 million by the 2003 farm census (data from the 2013 census hasn't yet been published). Ninety-one percent of the U.S. farms are small family farms. Keeping this land in farming benefits the environment and preserves a truly American way of life we have come to cherish. Because of this, a special ‘thank you’ for purchasing an RMT product. Sincerely, Walter M. Matuch President-Emeritus RMT/READY MADE TRAINS |