“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.”
Those 31 words are well-known by most Americans. It seems as though I have always known the Pledge of Allegiance. I memorized those words as a child when I first began attending school. Actually I only memorized 29 of those words which I shall explain later.
It was 74 years ago today, on June 22, 1942 that the Pledge of Allegiance was formally adopted for the first time by the Congress of the United States. The origins of the pledge can be traced back to 1887 when George Thacher Balch wrote the initial pledge: “I give my heart and my hand to my country—one country, one language, one flag.”
He spent the last years of his life dedicated to inspiring greater patriotism in children. Col. Balch died in 1894.
In August of 1892 Francis Bellamy wrote a separate pledge: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
He wanted to publicize the pledge for the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering the New World. Presidential Proclamation 335 decreed that the public school flag ceremony was the focus of the Columbus Day celebrations. The Pledge was published in the Sept. 8 issue of The Youth’s Companion, the leading family magazine in the United States at that time. It was first used in public schools on October 12, 1892. The pledge was initiated with the right hand over the heart, and after reciting “to the Flag,” the arm was extended toward the Flag, palm-down. You can best visualize this by recalling the Nazi salute prior to and during World War II.
The two pledges coexisted until 1923. That year, the National Flag Conference called for the words “my Flag” to be replaced by “the Flag of the United States,” so that fresh immigrants would not confuse their loyalties between their birth countries and the United States. The words “of America” were added in 1924.
In 1942, during World War II, because the salute with the extended arm was thought to resemble the Nazi salute too much, it was changed to keep the right hand over the heart throughout the salute.
In 1948, Louis Albert Bowman, an attorney from Illinois, suggested adding the two words “under God”. He received an Award of Merit from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution as the originator of this idea. On April 30, 1951, in New York City, the board of directors of the Knights of Columbus adopted a resolution to amend the text of their Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of each of the meetings by the addition of the words “under God” after the words “one nation.” The phrase “under God” was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance in June of 1954, by a Joint Resolution of Congress. This is why I stated at the beginning of the article that I originally only memorized 29 words.
Section 4 of the Flag Code now states:
“The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: ‘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’ should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.”
I would ask that you read the pledge again, either aloud or silently. When you read or said “one Nation” did you pause as if there was a comma there? There is not a comma and there should be no pause within “one Nation under God.”
Doc Halliday can be contacted at doc@dochalliday.us
Sharing is caring!
My understanding is that Bellamy intended his pledge to be more of a global thing, in that it could be used for/by any country.
There should be no pause, and there should also be no “under god”.
L like it just AS IT IS at present. Love the Pledge.
No one should stand for nor chant the Pledge of Allegiance because it was the origin of the notorious stiff-armed German socialist salute and of that type of bad behavior (that is one of the amazing discoveries of the historian Dr. Rex Curry, as described in the many books about the doctor’s work).
The article is incorrect about the “hand over the heart” because the early pledge began with a military salute that was then extended outward to point at the flag (thus the stiff-arm gesture came from the pledge and from the military salute).
The pledge was written in 1892 for kindergartners to be forced to recite under the flag at government schools (socialist schools). The pledge was written by an American socialist who influenced other socialists worldwide, including German socialists and other socialists globally. German socialists used the gesture under their flag’s notorious symbol (their symbol was used to represent crossed “S” letters for their “socialist” dogma -another one of the doctor’s discoveries). The pledge was part of a campaign for government to take over education and impose government schools (socialist schools) in the US, to spread Bellamy’s socialism. The pledge continues to be the origin of similar bad behavior even though the gesture was changed to hide the pledge’s putrid past. The pledge is central to the US’s police state and its continued growth.
The other poster Thomas is correct that Bellamy intended it as a global means of spreading his socialist dogma.
Interesting take. Less thee not forget that Bellamy was also a Christian minister. Yet, he did not feel the need to invoke the name of god iIn the pledge.
I am old enough to remember saluting the pledge with the arm extended and the palm turned upward toward the flag. It was very meaningful at the time and still is. It had nothing to do with Nazi salute but that was the beginning of the change. I do respect America and its flag. I hope all others also do and stop trying to read something into it. This is America learn to respect America..
The definition of “agenda”: In 1952 a christian organization adopts a resolution urging that the “under God” change be made universal to the pledge (they had been using it during meeting in their organization). This small group prompted Congress to adopt their policy for the entire nation.
good
Bellamy did include the words “under God” in his larger pledge program (of which the pledge was a small part). He was not a believer in the separation of church and state. Bellamy’s larger pledge program (designed for government schools) included hymns, prayers, various references to the Bible and God. Bellamy was fully aware that government schools (socialist schools) would include all of those things. It seems like an oversight that he left “under God” out of the smaller pledge part.
Though Dr. Rex Curry’s discoveries were made over a decade ago, the modern media remains ignorant of the historical research, and modern media outlets refuse to show old photos and film footage of the USA’s early stiff-armed gesture.
The pledge’s brainwashing continues to be the origin of Nazi behavior and it is a sad part of the USA’s socialist police state and its continuing expansion.
Francis Bellamy (author of the pledge) touted “military socialism” and wanted it imposed on all of society. He wanted the government to take over all schools to achieve that, and the pledge was part of that plan. When the government granted his wish, the government schools (socialist schools) imposed segregation by law and taught racism as official policy.
It was very meaningful at the time and still is in the sense of promoting socialism/Nazism. It had everything to do with Nazi salute and that was the beginning of the change in the gesture to hide the pledge’s putrid past and present. I do not respect the government nor robotic brainwashing by chants on cue. I hope all others feel as I do and stop trying to read something out of its promotion of socialism. This is police state USA. Learn to respect liberty instead. Don’t pledge allegiance: Declare your independence. .
I like this version:
I pledge allegiance to the Earth, and all the life which it supports.
One Planet, in our care, irreplaceable, with sustenance and respect for all.
Wow. All due respect, I like the pledge as is.
Doesn’t really matter .. It is rarely used in public schools anymore.
Honestly, I think the pledge is an antiquated concept. My kid’s recite it everyday at their elementary school (many schools do). To them it is just words w/o meaning, because nobody explains it. When that lesson does finally come, it would make sense to explain the history, as it has been presented in some of the comments here. Otherwise, it is just an exercise blindly going through the motions.
When, during the history of man, has blind/unquestioned nationalism ever proven to be a good thing?
In America right now.
I think Mr. Petersen doesn’t like being an American. He views himself as something other. That’s fine. He’s got a right to state his views. He has First Ammendment rights from this lousy country of ours. 🙂
You are correct.
Matter, You have the right to second guess anything I say, and to make subjective comments about me. Sorry, I won’t play that game. I have better things to do.
I agree Mr. Petersen. It is a waste of time. But your above comments are of interest to me. They do help me understand where you come from … And your other posts. Most helpful. Thanks.
Matter, With all due respect, I don’t think you do.
You may want to rethink your comment. America is the greatest place to live. I do believe many come for that reason.