The Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance VA
Thirty-one words which affirm the values and freedom that the American flag represents are recited while facing the flag as a pledge of Americans’ loyalty to their country.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written for the 400th anniversary, in 1892, of the discovery of America. A national committee of educators and civic leaders planned a public-school celebration of Columbus Day to center around the flag. Included with the script for ceremonies that would culminate in raising of the flag was the pledge. So it was in October 1892 Columbus Day programs that school children across the country first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
Controversy continues over whether the author was the chairman of the committee, Francis Bellamy — who worked on a magazine for young people that published the pledge — or James Upham, who worked for the publishing firm that produced the magazine. The pledge was published anonymously in the magazine and was not copyrighted.
According to some accounts of Bellamy as author, he decided to write a pledge of allegiance, rather than a salute, because it was a stronger expression of loyalty — something particularly significant even 27 years after the Civil War ended. “One Nation indivisible” referred to the outcome of the Civil War, and “Liberty and Justice for all” expressed the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
The words “my flag” were replaced by “the flag of the United States” in 1923, because some foreign-born people might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth, instead of the U.S. flag. A year later, “of America” was added after “United States.” No form of the pledge received official recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when it was formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945. The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954, when Congress passed a law which added the words “under God” after “one nation.”
Originally, the pledge was said with the hand in the so-called “Bellamy Salute,” with the hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body. Once Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the salute rendered by the Nazi military. In 1942, Congress established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand placed flat over the heart.
Section 7 of the Federal Flag Code states that when not in military uniform, men should remove any headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, thereby resting the hand over the heart. People in military uniform should remain silent, face the flag and render the military salute.
The Flag Code specifies that any future changes to the pledge would have to be with the consent of the president.
The Pledge of Allegiance now reads:
“ 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.”
Dec 2020
Students reflect on meaning of the pledge of allegiance
By Geoffrey Morris, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart
STUTTGART, Germany – National Pledge of Allegiance Day is celebrated every Dec. 28 and gives Americans an opportunity to reflect on the history of our pledge.
The story of the pledge began in 1885 when Civil War veteran George T. Balch worked with several charities, such as: the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Grand Army of the Republic, to pen a vow to the American Flag. It read, “We give our heads and our hearts to God and to our country; one country, one language, one flag.”
Balch’s pledge had a short run in some schools before Francis Bellamy wrote the first version of what is today known as the Pledge of Allegiance. Bellamy’s words were written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America and was quickly used in schools around the country.
Bellamy’s original version read, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
The pledge has been revised several times over the years, with the most notable edits to include replacing “my flag” with “the flag” and adding “under God” in 1954. Congress officially adopted the pledge of allegiance in 1942.
More than 60 years later, students at the Stuttgart Elementary School still start their mornings by reciting the historic words. For some, this routine is an important part of their day.
“It helps to remember America even while we’re over here [in Germany] and it connects us,” said Stuttgart Elementary School 5th Grader, Karolina Aguirre. Fellow classmate Gretchen Jensen added, the pledge reminds her that the U.S. is a country that believes in justice. Stuttgart High School student, Jack Engleke, said he recites the pledge to remember the sacrifices of others.
“The Pledge of Allegiance represents the freedom and ideals that America is built on,” said Engleke. “I’m able to enjoy my life because others gave theirs for my freedom and I celebrate them every day by reciting the honorable pledge.”