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I did some internet research on the Pledge and this is some of the information I found. Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931), a Baptist minister, wrote the original Pledge in August 1892. He was a Christian Socialist.The Pledge was published in the September 8th issue of The Youth's Companion, the leading family magazine and the Reader's Digest of its day. In 1892 Francis Bellamy was also a chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association. As its chairman, he prepared the program for the public schools' quadricentennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute. 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. I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and (to*) the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.* 'to' added in October, 1892. 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. He considered placing the word, 'equality,' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. Mr. Bellamy was asked to remove himself as a minister as his beliefs were considered too socialist for him to continue to serve in that capacity. He moved from his homestate of New York to Florida where he discontinued attending Church altogether, considering it racist. He passed away in 1931. The pledge as we know it was changed three times since Mr. Bellamy first penned it. On June 14, 1923, at the First National Flag Conference held in Washington, D.C., the 'leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution changed the Pledge's words. The words "the flag of the United States" were substituted for "my flag."on the grounds that some foreign-born children and adults when giving the Pledge might have in mind the flag of their native land.In 1923, In 1924, "of America" was added. 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 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." As reviewed by Red Skelton January 14, 1969 I.... Me. An individual. pledge..... Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity, a vow, a promise. allegiance...... allegiance All of my ability to give to protect you, to stand by you. A devotion to duty. to the flag... to the flag. Our standard, Old Glory. A symbol of freedom. of the United....... of the United That means that we have all come together. States....... States Individual communities that have united into 50 great states. Fifty individual communities with pride, dignity, and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country. And now we give the "White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; and Blue, Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice." flag meaning. The stars represent each of the state gathered as one against a dark blue sky to shine through the night, the stripes the beginning of the nation. of America....... of America, That wilderness continent which was tamed by our courageous forefathers, yet which remains to be protected for our children's children. Created by God with highways of mountains and rivers, birds in the sky and fish in lakes. Woods to provide protection and animals for food and clothing. and to the Republic......... and to the Republic A state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. That government is the people, and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people. for which it stands....... for which it stands; Our flag is the symbol of that Republic. Now given meaning, a symbol to follow into battle, to protect, to gather around when times look bad and to celebrate when times are good. one nation....... one nation a country created by God, a nation organized from 50 states created by man.. under God,....... under God, Supreme Being, the source of all power, life, light, truth, justice, and love. God created America, the land, the rivers, the mountains, the birds, animals, you and me. Man created the political nation and now we dedicate the nation back to God. indivisble,........ indivisible, Incapable of being divided. with liberty... with liberty Freedom. The right or power to live one's own life without threat or fear of some sort of retaliation. This does not mean we can do whatever we want for we are a country of laws of checks and balances to insure our liberty. and justice...... and justice The principle or quality of dealing fairly with others. for all........ for all. Everybody. Each and every citizen of this country is entitled to liberty and justice. Which means that it is just as much your country as it is mine. From: http://www.spiritisup.com/pledgeofallegiance.html
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