Small Crowd Recites Pledge in front of High School

About 25 people, mostly middle-aged adults with American flags, recited the Pledge of Allegiance in front of Arlington High School amid heavy thunderstorms Wednesday morning as students arrived for their first day of school.

The gathering, which took place on the Massachusetts Avenue sidewalk directly in front of the high school's main entrance, was organized by Arlington High senior Sean Harrington, who successfully urged the School Committee this summer to implement a daily voluntary recitation of the Pledge at the high school, and Andrea Neale, a 33-year-old Gardner resident who was inspired by Harrington's mission once it gained national publicity.

"I wanted the people who supported me through this thing, if they're not able to get into the building, to be able to be here and celebrate the fact that we got the Pledge into a school that didn't have it for 40 years," the 17-year-old Harrington said at the event, which featured television news cameras, radio broadcasters, including representatives from Rush Radio 1200, and print and online journalists.

After the outdoor reading at 7:45 a.m., Harrington went inside and recited the Pledge with his fellow students shortly after 8 a.m.

The Facebook event had 300 attendees. However, Neale believed that once the committee approved the Pledge, many supporters were satisfied and chose not to come.

"Once the [committee] passed it, I think a lot of people backed out," she said, "but it wasn't going to stop my resolve."

Neale said she belongs to political organizations but organized the gathering as a private citizen.

There were no opposing views expressed at the event. Students glanced at the scene from afar but appeared more concerned with getting inside and staying dry on their first day of school.

An Arlington Police cruiser was stationed across the street, but there were no incidents.

James Johnson, a Gardner resident who served in the Navy for 22 years, held a large American flag that once flew over the Capitol. "I think it's important for all kids growing up to learn (the Pledge)," he said of his reason for coming.

The majority of people were not from Arlington.

Harrington, who plans to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker and local congressional candidate Gerry Dembrowski, both Republicans, this fall, admitted it was an unusual way to start his senior year.

"It's a bit weird, kind of awkward," he said of the attention, "but I'm totally fine with it. I've been around media for the past two months."