WHEELING — The George Washington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution once again is asking Ohio Valley churches, synagogues and spiritual organizations to take part in Allegiance Sunday.

Allegiance Sunday is unlike any of the other days we observe. Memorial Day specifically honors the dead. Veterans Day is a day of remembering all those who have served in all wars. But Allegiance Sunday is a day of personal feeling and expression.

It is a quiet day, not a day of celebration or exhibition. It is a day set aside for all to participate, to reaffirm their fealty and love of country and to demonstrate that fealty and love in declaring their allegiance.

All other days of national note are times for remembering the historic past. But this day is dedicated to the future; here we have a personal opportunity to join in publicly professing that fact by repeating the Pledge of Allegiance or singing a patriotic hymn together.

Allegiance Sunday usually is the Sunday closest to July 4 — this year, the Fourth falls on Thursday, so Sunday, June 30, or July 7, would be a perfect time to remember that we are Americans. With so much division that has consumed our country, this is a perfect time to come together as one, the George Washington chapter wrote in a news release.

“On Allegiance Sunday, it is our hope that all churches, synagogues and spiritual organizations will take a few minutes during their service to pledge to the flag and/or sing some patriotic hymns,” the release states.

This is a national project of the Sons of the American Revolution, and churches that participate are asked to send a copy of their bulletin for that Sunday to: George Washington Chapter c/o Gary Timmons, 13 Elm Lane, Wheeling, WV 26003. They will be tabulated and a report will be sent to the national society.

“We are the citizens and the voters. We defend our country because we and the nation are one and the same,” the release notes. “We ask those of us who govern only that they hold fast to the principles of freedom, liberty, justice and truth. We love our country and publicly declare our allegiance. We ask all who join in sincerity to reaffirm their loyalty as together we say: ‘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.'”