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"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."
The original
draft of the pledge is said to have been written in 1892
by James B. Upham, a magazine publisher in Boston. The
first version was: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and
to the republic for which it stands; one nation
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." In 1939,
the U.S. Flag Association concluded the pledge's author
was Francis Bellamy.
At the first National Flag Conference in 1923 in
Washington, D.C., delegates from patriotic societies,
civic and other organizations substituted the words "the
flag of the United States" for "my flag." The change was
made because it was thought that the foreign-born might
have in mind the flag of their native land when they
said "my flag." Another change was made at the second
National Flag Conference in 1924 when the words "of
America" were added.
For 30 years the version was: "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." In 1954 Congress
added the words "under God" to the pledge.
The pledge of allegiance should be rendered while
standing at attention facing the flag with the right
hand over the heart. When not in uniform people should
remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it
at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Members of the armed forces in uniform should remain
silent, face the flag and render the military salute.
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