June 15, 2011

The Pledge of Allegiance




Did you know that the words to the Pledge of Allegiance have been changed from when they were first written?

Francis Bellamy wrote the pledge in 1892 when public schools were getting ready to celebrate the 400th celebration of  Columbus discovering America.  He wanted something for the schoolchildren to say when saluting the flag.  This is what Bellamy wrote:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Notice my flag These words were changed in 1924 when the National Flag Conference decided they should be changed to  the flag of the United States of America.

Then in 1954, Congress added the words under God

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. 

3 comments:

  1. Interestingly, there actually isn't a comma after "one nation." It reads as "one nation under God, indivisible..." Gives more impact that way, doesn't it?

    Thanks for the history lesson! Very interesting stuff!

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  2. You're right--I'm going to change that right now. Thanks, Mindy!

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  3. You're welcome! Maybe I'm being too particular, but I like that it's one combined thought, not an afterthought. =)

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