At the June 22, 2026 meeting of the Knox County Commission, Commissioner Courtney Durrett presented a proclamation recognizing America’s upcoming 250th Anniversary and the United States Constitution.

Most of the proclamation celebrates our nation’s founding and governing document. However, one paragraph stands out because it does something government officials should never do—it inserts political interpretation into the words of the military oath.

The sixth paragraph reads:

“WHEREAS, members of the United States Armed Forces swear an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, reflecting the enduring principle that loyalty is owed to the Constitution and the nation it establishes—not to any individual officeholder; and”

The only portion of that paragraph that actually comes from the military enlistment oath is:

”…support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

Everything that follows—“reflecting the enduring principle that loyalty is owed to the Constitution and the nation it establishes—not to any individual officeholder”—is not part of the oath. It is the proclamation author’s own interpretation.

That distinction matters.

Government proclamations should educate, commemorate, and inspire. They should not place editorial commentary inside what appears to be a quotation of an official oath.

Here is the actual enlistment oath taken by members of the United States Armed Forces:

“I (_____), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Notice what the official oath actually says.

After pledging to defend the Constitution, every service member also swears to obey the orders of the President of the United States and the officers appointed over them, according to law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The proclamation’s added language suggests a contrast between loyalty to the Constitution and “any individual officeholder.” Yet the very oath being referenced expressly requires obedience to the lawful orders of the President—the nation’s Commander in Chief—while remaining grounded in the Constitution.

No one disputes that the Constitution is supreme. That is precisely why the President’s authority exists: it is established by the Constitution itself. The oath does not create a conflict between constitutional loyalty and lawful civilian leadership. It recognizes both.

This is why precision matters.

When government bodies quote the military oath, they have a responsibility to quote it accurately rather than inserting language that reflects a modern political narrative or personal interpretation. Citizens deserve to know where the actual oath ends and where commentary begins.

There is another issue worth noting.

Knox County Commission proclamations are not voted on by the Commission. Nevertheless, all eleven commissioners sponsored this proclamation. Whether every commissioner reviewed the wording before lending their name to it is unknown, but sponsorship carries responsibility. Public officials should ensure the documents they endorse accurately represent historical and legal facts.

During the meeting, Commissioner Durrett explained that a constituent had requested the proclamation earlier this year and stated that it would be read during multiple America 250 celebrations. She also recognized Commander Michael Kesterman, Captain Bill Robinson, and Commandant Susie Schmidt, although none of the three were present to receive the recognition.

America’s 250th Anniversary should be an opportunity to celebrate our founding documents as they were written—not as modern political messaging would prefer them to read.

The Constitution does not need to be rewritten. Neither does the military oath.

When Knox County places its official seal on a proclamation, the public has every right to expect historical accuracy, faithful quotations, and a clear distinction between fact and opinion. If we are truly celebrating the Constitution, then we should begin by respecting the exact words that generations of American service members have sworn to uphold.