Kindergartner stops outside school to pray, say Pledge of Allegiance
SANTA FE, Texas – Five-year-old Texas kindergartner Royce Nelson has his priorities in order: God, country, school.
Heather Nelson told ABC 7 she rushed her son to kindergarten last week but when he reached the front door of Roy J. Wollam Elementary School he stopped in his tracks as other kids rushed inside.
Nelson called out: “Royce, go, go!” But he simply stood there silently, head bowed.
That’s when the school resource officer monitoring students’ arrival stepped over to explain the situation to Nelson.
“The officer said ‘mom he’s doing good, he stopped for the Pledge of Allegiance (and then she puts her hand over her heart to show me) and now he’s praying,” Nelson posted to Facebook Thursday, along with a picture of her son standing outside of the front entrance.
“Since they do not have prayer in schools he says a little prayer silently and that’s exactly what he was doing,” she wrote. “I was so proud that he stopped when the Pledge of Allegiance came and stood his ground and did not move as the other kids were going in and then took time out and prayed and did not even care or think twice about it.
“This is such a beautiful picture,” Nelson posted.
Fox 26 reports the post has since received two million views on Facebook.
“I said a prayer,” Royce told the news site. “Thank you God, thank you for giving me a wonderful day.”
Santa Fe Independent School District officer Cibby Moore said she was struck by the student’s devotion.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I couldn’t believe he acknowledged that was a moment when you need to stop and do the pledge. And he just did, and he just ignored all the other kids around him and kept doing it.
“It was awesome.”
Most folks who commented on Nelson’s Facebook post thought it was pretty awesome, as well.
“It’s stuff like this that gives me hope for a future and also makes me proud of the small town I came from!” Richard Richardson wrote.
“Wow! Great son,” Tim Galvan posted.
“He’s amazing,” Nelson confirmed.
“That’s something to be proud of!” Stacy Pace added.
“It’s good to know there are people out there teaching their children to be respectful to others and the world,” Jobie Flowers posted. “So proud of you and your family Heather.”
“So some children are raised well,” Jim Henson posted to the ABC 7 comments. “Good on ya!”
“Vestige of our lost culture,” Jay added.