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Is this an oath that was written by men at war? Was it created by person or persons who wanted to make a declaration to the world? Did we need a set allegiance of our professed values lest we forget them; liberty and justice for all?

On September 8, 1892 a Boston-based youth magazine "The Youth's Companion" published a 22-word recitation for school children. It was to be used during planned activities to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. The author was a Christian Socialist and Baptist minister by the name of Francis Bellamy.

It read, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible,With Liberty and Justice for all." October 11, 1892

"My flag" might be misunderstood by many immigrants so it was changed to:

"I pledge allegiance to my the Flag of the United States,and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
June 14, 1923.

Further nation clarification occurred when it was changed again a year later to:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,and to the Republic for which it stands:one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
June 14, 1924

Dwight D. Eisenhower made the next change in 1954, adding "Under God". His reasoning was as follows: "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."

This change was requested by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization.

"In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer." *

The pledge started out being a lovely expression for children to celebrate the founding of this country and its principles.

It was not used as a political or social tool. The Knights of Columbus used it for their own purposes, to promote a specific agenda.

Let us hope that was an aberration and the pledge will remain a litany of words that all in this country can equally believe in and speak.

* http://history.vineyard.net/pl edge.htm

Pledges copied from and other source material found at:
http://www.homeofheroes.com /hallofheroes/1st_floor /flag/1bfc_pledge.html

This article taken from another Helium article by this author. author.http://www.helium.com/t m/377848/making-because-import ant-pledge

Learn more about this author, Carol Levy.
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