Pledge of Allegianc
James A. Moss, an authority on the flag and its history, was first given
national publicity through the official program of the National Public
School Celebration of Columbus Day in October 1892. The Pledge had
been published in theYouth's Companion for September 8,1892, and at
the same time sent out in leaflet form throughout the country.During the
Celebration it was repeated by more than 12,000,000 public school
pupils in every state in the Union.
Mr. Francis Bellamy of Rome, New York, and Mr. James Upham of
Malden, Massachusetts were both members of the staff of the Youth's
Companion when the Pledge was published. The family of each man has
contended that his was the authorship and both hold evidence to
substantiate their claims.
To determine, in the interest of historical accuracy, the actual authorship,
the United States Flag Association (formerly in Washington, D.C., but
now disbanded), in 1939, appointed a committee consisting of Charles C.
Tansill,Professor of American History; W. Reed West, Professor of
Political Science; and Bernard Mayo, Professor of American History, to
carefully weigh the evidence of the two contending families. Unanimously,
the committee decided in favor of Francis Bellamy, and on May 18,
1939, the decision was accepted by the American Flag Committee. Mr.
Bellamy had been chairman of the executive committee which formulated
the program for the National Public School Celebration and furnished the
publicity when he was on the staff of the Youth's Companion.
In the material which he nationally circulated, he wrote, Let the flag
float over every school-house in the land and the exercise be such as shall
impress upon our youth the patriotic duty of citizenship. He also
included the original 23 words of the Pledge which he had developed. *
'to' added in October, 1892.
I pledge allegiance to my Flag,
and (to*) the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
Thus it was that on Columbus Day in October 1892, the Pledge of
Allegiance was repeated by more than 12 million public school children in
every state in the union.
The wording of the Pledge has been modified three times.
On June 14, 1923, at the First National Flag Conference held in
Washington, D.C., under the 'leadership of the American Legion and the
Daughters of the American Revolution, changed the Pledge's words. The
latter words were added on the ground that some foreign-born children
and adults when giving the Pledge might have in mind the flag of their
native land.In 1923, the words the flag of the United States were
substituted for my flag.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
In 1924, of America, was added.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
On Flag Day June 14, 1954, the words "under God" were added
The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag
Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the
words "under God". As he authorized this change he said: "In this way we
are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage
and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual
weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in
peace and war."
This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words
what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now
comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a
flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal. Those words now read:
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.
The Pledge of Allegiance continued to be recited daily by children in
schools across America, and gained heightened popularity among adults
during the patriotic fervor created by World War II. It still was an
"unofficial" pledge until June 22, 1942 when the United States Congress
included the Pledge to the Flag in the United States Flag Code (Title 36).
In 1945 the Pledge to the Flag received its official title as: The Pledge of
Allegiance
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When the Pledge is being given, all should stand with the right hand over
the heart, fingers together and horizontal with the arm at as near a right
angle as possible. After the words "justice to all," the arm should drop to
the side. While giving the Pledge of Allegiance all should face the flag.
According to Colonel Moss, no disrespect is displayed by giving the
Pledge with a gloved hand over the heart, but he calls our attention to the
fact that an Army Officer or an enlisted man always removes his right
glove upon taking his oath as a witness. The Daughters of the American
Revolution follow the custom of having the right hand ungloved.
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The idea of the annual PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
originated in 1980 at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore,
Maryland. The National Flag Day Foundation. Inc. was created in 1982 to conduct educational programs throughout the United States in
promotion of National Flag Day and to encourage national patriotism by
promotion of the PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGiANCE.
On June 20, 1985, the Ninety-Ninth Congress passed and President
Reagan signed Public Law 99-54 recognizing the PAUSE FOR THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE as part of National Flag Day activities. It
is an invitation urging all Americans to participate on Flag Day,
June 14, 7:00 p.m. (EDT) in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
