I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies."

The American's Creed was written in 1917 as

part of a National contest by William Tyler Page.

The contest was the idea of the New York

State Commissioner of Education, Sterling Chapin.

It was adapted by the U.S. House of Representatives

the following year, April 3rd, 1918.

The contest arose as a result of the U.S. involvement

in World War I and an effort to restore faith and

Patriotism in our Nation. The Creed reflects on our

faith as Americans, the fundamentals of our history

and our historical traditions.

Various phrases in the Creed were used from

famous historical documents such as

The Declaration Of Independence, The Constitution,

and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.