The Pledge of Allegiance

Written by: Francis Bellamy, from Mount Morris,?New York

Originally published in the children’s magazine?The Youth’s Companion?and was first recited in schools on October 12, 1892.??The pledge was officially recognized by the United States Congress 50 years later in 1942.

Francis Bellamy said he wanted the Pledge of Allegiance to be short and crisp, with the message of loyalty to the American flag being conveyed concisely and unambiguously.?

The original words of the Pledge were:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The U.S. Flag as it was when the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited, with 44 stars.

The first change was in 1923, that changed it from “My Flag” to “The Flag”

I pledge allegiance to?the?Flag, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The second change was in 1924, that added “Of the United State of America”

I pledge allegiance to?the?Flag,?of the United State of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The Third change was in 1954 when President?Dwight Eisenhower?signed a bill passed by Congress to insert the phrase “under God”?

I pledge allegiance to?the?Flag,?of the United State of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation,?under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The U.S. Flag as it was in 1954 with 48 stars.

What Does It Mean?

Oftentimes, the Pledge is learned by repetition, without paying attention to its most important component — the meaning it conveys. The meaning can be lost. Here is a simple interpretation of the official wording of the Pledge of Allegiance.

• I pledge allegiance?— I promise my devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause
• to the Flag of the United States of America?— to the Flag that represents our Country and all its 50 states and most importantly the 320+/- Million people who consider themselves Americans (Yes, All of them)
• and to the republic for which it stands?— The U.S. as a Constitutional Republic, where we the citizens select individuals to represent our best interests, to serve in a government that is limited by our Constitution (The Public Thing)
• one nation?— We don’t get to pick who’s in and who’s out, we are all in this together, even though, we act like a family at the Thanksgiving dinner table, and that’s OK
• under God?— Like it or not, the founders were religious, but they made sure that all are free to make their own choices with respect to their God and Religion
• indivisible?— regardless of trends, fads and false narratives, the American people have always demonstrated our ability to unite in the face of great adversity
• with Liberty?— the power to do as one pleases, and acknowledge others power to do as they please
• and Justice?— Acknowledging our role in understanding and participating in the entire system created to make, change, or abolish laws to ensure tranquility for all
• for all?— for every citizen of the country

America is not a place, it’s a people with a particular set of values, morals, and ethics. People misunderstand when we say our country or refer to the flag of the United States of America. It’s to the 'Republic' for which it stands that we are willing to die for, not a piece of cotton flying on a pole or lines on a map. It’s our unwavering commitment to protect each other and fulfill the promise this country was founded for.?

Did you know?

The “Star-Spangled Banner” was the flag that flew at Fort McHenry during the war of 1812. Many people believe the Revolutionary war ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, but the soldiers at Ft. McHenry know better. They understood freedom is not free, it will always be under attack, and we will always be fighting to keep it.

As did Francis Scott Key who while being held by the British on a ship in Baltimore harbor, was inspired to write the epic, “The Defense of Fort M’Henry,” which later became “The Star-Spangled Banner” song and future National Anthem.

The Actual Star-Spangled Banner resides at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Here is the full version that few people know:

O! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming:

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming,

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O! say, does that Star-spangled Banner still* wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam --

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;

'Tis the Star-spangled Banner, O! long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave.

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave!

And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the foe's desolation;

Bless'd with victory and peace, may our Heaven-rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation

Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just --

And this be our motto -- "In God is our trust!"

And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

“The commander of Fort McHenry, Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead became an instant hero after the victory. The Star-Spangled Banner became an Armistead family keepsake and was passed down through the family to his grandson, who recognized it for the national treasure that it is. He donated it to the Smithsonian in 1907 with the request that it always be on view to the public. The museum has gone to great lengths to balance the Armistead family’s wishes to have it on display with the need for preservation. The flag hangs in Flag Hall, one of the first galleries on view in the 300,000 square-foot National Museum of American history. Today, it is one of the most popular displays, with over 5 million annual visitors.”

Link to original Article:?https://www.americanflags.com/blog/post/historic-flags-of-the-smithsonian-a-visitors-guide

I recently visited Armistead's gravesite. As I was on my Signers of the Declaration of Independence tour, I just happened upon it as I was visiting Samuel Chases gravesite at Old Saint Pauls Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. Interesting side note, Francis Scott Key was also buried here until he was reinterred at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Fredrick, Maryland in 1866.

Did you also know?

According to the all-knowing and unbiased Wikipedia:

Francis Julius Bellamy (May 18, 1855 – August 28, 1931) was an American Christian Socialist Baptist minister and author, is best known for writing the original version of the US Pledge of Allegiance in 1892.

What is a Christian Socialist you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.

Christian socialism is a religious and political philosophy that blends Christianity and socialism, endorsing left-wing politics and socialist economics based on the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. Many Christian socialists believe capitalism to be idolatrous and rooted in the sin of greed. Christian socialists identify the cause of social inequality to be the greed that they associate with capitalism.

That’s an interesting dilemma now, isn’t it?

My sister once asked me if I owned a piece of clothing that did NOT have the U.S. Flag on it. I can confidently say, I have owned every piece of clothing from my hats to my flag printed Chuck Taylors that I wore on the Submarine. We have to wear soft shoes to stay quiet.

Image for illustration purposes only, not the original pair, but an exact replica of the Chucks that traveled the Atlantic, Arctic, and Mediterranean, at test depth, while eating watery soft serve ice cream and drinking bug juice.

And now you know.