The celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus in 1892 was going to be a really big deal according to Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister, who chaired the committee in charge of the festivities for America's school children. His committee decided to have every school in America open that day with a flag ceremony and a flag salute. What would the flag salute consist of when Bellamy wrote the pledge.
This very first pledge was written in August 1892 and read like this:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Bellamy envisioned a great patriotic swell across America. Said he-"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."
Bellamy almost put in the word "equality" in the pledge, but he had on his committee some state school superintendents of education who were opposed to equality for women and blacks, so to keep the peace on the committee, he left the word out.In 1923, the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution changed "my flag" to "the flag of the United States." The following year they added "of America."
On June 22, 1942, with World War II in full blaze and children all across America reciting the pledge, Congress gave it official sanction, and included the practice of placing the right hand over the heart.
In 1954, after a popular push started by numerous religious groups, the Knights of Columbus and the Hearst Newspapers, the words "under God" were added by Congress. The 31-word pledge was now an oath and prayer. Said President Dwight Eisenhower: "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 precedent for using the words "under God" was set when President Lincoln ad-libbed during his Gettysburg address- "This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom." The "under God" words were spontaneous and not part of his written text.
The next time we recite the pledge, lets remember that there is no comma between the words, "one nation under God." We shouldn't pause when we are saying these words.
The famous comedian, Red Skelton, talked about the change in the pledge during his lifetime. "Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldnt it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that it would be eliminated from schools too?"
In June, 2002, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled "under God" rendered the pledge unconstitutional as a government endorsement of religion. On Nov. 13, 2002, President George Bush signed a bill reaffirming "under God" and "In God We Trust." The bill was approved by Congress unanimously in the Senate and by 430 'yea' votes to 5 'nay' votes in the House.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
pic from flickr
1 comment:
I always feel a little self conscious when saying the pledge, because I say it like this (note where there are NOT commas):
"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."
Puts me a little out of sync with those saying it as they did as children, but I say it as I MEAN it, and because I value what it says.
Happy 4th - and thanks for the great history lesson!(p.s. - read my email to you about Sullivan Ballou!)
Post a Comment