Swansea Ice Cream Shop Rewards Kids For Reciting Pledge of Allegiance

There's not much that's more American than going out for ice cream on a hot summer's night.  For patriotic kids in and around Swansea, there's an ice cream shop that is giving away free ice cream.

Eskimo King is in Swansea on Route 136, not far from the state line and Warren, Rhode Island.  The owner, Nancy Diemoz, wants to encourage young Americans to learn the Pledge of Allegiance.  Every Monday evening in July from 4 pm until 7 pm, Diemoz invites kids 12 and under to recite the Pledge in exchange for a free ice cream cone.

She says the response has been tremendous.  "We get them as young as 3, and they might get a little help from an older brother or sister."

Diemoz was quick to tell us that she didn't think of the idea on her own.  "I read about it in a national ice cream retailer's magazine back in 2010, and we've been doing it ever since."  She says it is satisfying to know that she plays a small part in having SouthCoast kids learn the Pledge of Allegiance.

Surprisingly, Diemoz says she has received some negative feedback on social media, but says she ignores it.  "They say I should keep politics out of my business.  They it isn't fair for kids who can't recite the pledge.  I'll tell you we've never turned a child away.  The positive feedback we get far outweighs the negativity.  Besides, I don't think it's coming from any of my customers, these comments are coming from people who live far, far away from Swansea.

After the media attention, Diemoz expects a large showing of kids ready to recite the pledge on Monday.  "We try to be as red, white and blue in here as we can.  I don't think enough kids can learn the Pledge of Allegiance.  We're so happy to be doing this."