American Star

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by socialist minister (there’s an interesting oxymoron) Francis Bellamy. He wrote it as part of a patriotic school program to coincide with opening ceremonies for the Columbian Exposition. Originally, the pledge appeared thus: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Bellamy hoped it would inspire citizenship among children and young people of many nations. The words “of the United States of America” weren’t part of the pledge until 1927. In 1954 President Eisenhower urged congress to add the words, “under God” as a response to the threat of “godless communism.” Bellamy didn’t mean for us to recite the pledge with hands over our hearts. Instead, he intended that we should salute the flag and then extend our right arms forward; a gesture we dropped shortly after the Nazi party adopted it.