In response to Terrie Mayhew’s Jan. 10 letter, “One nation, under God.”

I, too, send my best wishes and hopes to those fighting abroad and am thankful I live in this country. But, Mayhew’s statement that we Americans need to put our trust in God and not man reminded me of the story of a man trapped in a flood. He had climbed onto his roof attempting to escape the rising waters. Two boats and a helicopter came by whose occupants asked if they could be of assistance. He declined all their offers saying he put his faith in God and God would save him. He drowned. Upon meeting God, he asked why God had not saved him. God responded that he was sent two boats and a helicopter.

Putting trust and faith in our fellow man is a way of having trust and faith in God.

In the way of a historical note, the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy. What he originally wrote was, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The words “under God” were not added until 1954 following a campaign by the Knights of Columbus. Bellamy died in 1931, but his granddaughter has stated that he would not have been happy with the addition.

Ben Erik Lamborn

Levant