My Oath of Allegiance

The President, Vice President, all cabinet appointees, and other government officials including Senators and Representatives have their own oath of office giving greater allegiance to uphold the Constitution and laws, to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic (The basic oath of office was established in 1789 but this section was added around 1860 during the Civil War regarding traitors.] 

Judges, both Federal and State, have their own oath of office, as do the armed forces, state officials, etc. But as ordinary natural born citizens, we only have the Pledge of Allegiance, which we seldom speak any more.

As I read the oath given by those becoming new citizens from other countries, I am struck by the oath they must take, and I am moved by the emotion I have observed when I have seen these new citizens take that important step.  It has great meaning to them.

“I hereby declare, on oath [or, and solemnly affirm], 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 the 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 [optional].” [Underlined section has a few options regarding ability or religious training or belief under the law.]

As natural born citizens in the United States, or its territories, we have never had to swear our oath of allegiance to our country (except for the pledge of allegiance, or if we served in the military or held public office which required an oath to our country) in the same way new immigrants and refugees must pledge their allegiance when they become citizens. 

Since I have never had to make such an oath, I would like to do so now, freely. ”I, Ronald C. Kurtz, hereby declare and solemnly affirm, 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 perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by 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.”