HISTORY OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

The Pledge recited today was developed from the original written in August, 1892. James B. Upham, a partner in the firm which published the magazine, and Frances M. Bellamy, a former minister and a member of the magazine staff, both claimed to be authors of the first draft written in the Boston offices of The Youth’s Companion magazine and the first published in its September 8, 1892 issue. The original pledge was part of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America. Millions of school children recited the pledge on September 12, 1892 in honor of Columbus Day.

Bellamy was recognized as the author of the Pledge by the 79th Congress in December, 1945 when his work was officially designated as "the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag" by Public Law 287. Official recognition of the Pledge, however was granted in 1942 when the 77th Congress outlined rules pertaining the use and display of the flag.

The National Flag Conference in Washington, June 14 and 15, 1923, substituted the words "the Flag of the United States" for "my Flag" in the original version making the Pledge specifically American. Later, "of America" was added. A final change authorized by an Act of Congress in 1954 added the words "under God". Signing the act, President Eisenhower remarked that "in this way we are reaffirming the transcedence 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".

WHAT THE PLEDGE MEANS TO YOU

The Pledge is a vital, thrilling expression of every American’s patriotism and loyalty to the flag and the free nation it represents. The Pledge should keep us ever mindful of our solemn duty to preserve our precious heritage of liberty and justice for all citizens.

Standing facing the flag, with the right hand held over the heart, the Pledge should be recited daily in the classroom and at all occasions where the flag is displayed. Except in military uniform, men should remove their hats when reciting the Pledge.

The flag of the United States, popularly called the "Stars and Stripes" and "old Glory," was officially adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on June 14, 1888 as the result of a resolution offered by the Congressional Marine Committee. It read: "Be it resolved that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternated red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white on blue field, representing a new constellation."

The Grand Union Flag was the first step in the evolution of the Stars and Stripes. It appeared on January 4, 1776, on the flagship "Alfred" with Commodore Hopkins in command of our infant Navy. The "Rebellious Stripes" flew from the topmast as the first Navy Jack, while at the stern flew the Grand Union Flag. It also had 13 horizontal red and white stripes but with the British Union Jack in the upper left corner. Through it, the conservative element in the United Colonies hoped we might gain our political rights within the British Empire without severing ties with the Mother Country. Usefulness of the flag ended, however, with the Declaration of Independence.

In 1776, the Stars and Stripes was approved as our new country’s flag. This decision marked the first flag in history that was chosen by representatives of the people and not the ruler. The 13 stripes of red and white side-by-side bands symbolize the 13 Colonies who fought for their freedom side-by-side. The red symbolizes courage while the white suggests separation from the Mother Country. The stars in the Union also stood for the original 13 Colonies and were adopted from Washington’s coat of arms. The circular patter of the stars symbolized "union without end". Blue was chosen for the union field for its representation of loyalty through hardship.

Although it is believed by many that Betsy Ross designed and assembled the first symbol of the United States, her involvement is only a legend. Her descendants claimed that she had been approached for her suggestions on the design of a new naval flag and proposed that the stars be kept in a circle and be of five points instead of a six, as tin the Massachusetts penny. Records of the Pennsylvania State Navy Board for May 29, 1777 show payment "to Elizabeth Ross for making ships colours, 14 pounds, 12 shillings and two pence." This however, was more than two weeks before the Second Continental Congress approved the new flag.

The Stars and Stripes remained our ensign until 1795 when it was changed to 15 stars gnat 15 strips with the admission of Vermont in 1791 and Kentucky in 1792 into the Union. The stars were arranged in five staggered rows of three stars each. This flag of 15 stars and stripes inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the words to what we now know as "The Star-Spangled Banner"; it was first hoisted over a fortress in the old world when Naval and Marine personnel raised it above the Tripolitan stronghold in Derne, Tripoli in 1805; it was our ensign in the Battle of Lake Erie and was flown by General Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans; during the War of 1812, the original Star-Spangled Banner flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

Fearing that too many stripes would spoil its true design, Congress passed a law on April 4, 1818 returning the flag to its original thirteen stripes and provided for the addition of a new star to the blue field on July 4th after admission to the Union of each new state. Stars were added frequently until the number reached 48 with the admission of Arizona and New Mexico in 1912. The admission of Alaska in 1959 and Hawaii in 1960 made "old Glory" truly spangled with 50 bright stars. Now the Stars and Stripes is a proud symbol of our nation’s struggle for independence, its growth into a world power, and the heritage of free men and women.

RESPECT FOR YOUR FLAG

It is customary to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs, except during inclement weather. It may be displayed at night to produce a patriotic effect if proper lighting is provided.

Weather permitting, display the flag every day. Always hoist the flag briskly, and lower it ceremoniously. Flags should always be flown on national and state holidays and other days proclaimed by the President of the United States.

Display the U.S. flag on these Holidays*:

New Year’s Day

Inauguration Day

Lincoln’s Birthday

Washington’s Birthday

Easter Sunday

Mother’s Day

Armed Forces Day

Memorial Day (half staff until noon)

Flag Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Navy Day

Veteran’s Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

State birthdays and holidays may also be observed.

Observe the following when handling the flag:

Never show disrespect to the flag.

Never dip the flag to any person or thing.

Never display the flag with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.

Never allow the flag to touch anything beneath it.

Never carry the flag horizontally.

Never use the flag as drapery nor to receive, hold, carry or deliver anything.

Never place anything on the flag nor attach any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture or drawing to it.

Never embroider the flag on cushions, handkerchiefs and the like, nor printed on objects in tended for temporary use and then discarded.

Never throw away a flag. Badly worn flags should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by private burning.

FLY YOUR FLAG REGULARLY AND CORRECTLY

If flags of two or more nations are flown, use flags of equal size and flagstaffs of equal heights. International usage forbids display of one nation’s flag above another in time of peace.

When two flags are displayed with crossed staffs together against a wall the US flag should be on the flag’s own right and its staff in front of the staff of the other flag.

The U.S. flag should be at the center and the highest point when a number of flags of states or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

In a procession with other flags, the U.S. flag should either be on the marching right (flag’s own right) or if there is a line of other flags in front of the center of that line.

When displayed from a projecting staff, the union of the flag should be at the peak, unless at half staff. The flag should be hoisted out the peak union first.

When covering a casket, the union should be at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into nor allowed to touch the ground. When flown at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak first, then lower it to half-staff position. It should be raised to the peak before being lowered.

The U.S. flag should be a distinctive part of an unveiling ceremony of a statue or monument but should never be used as a covering for the statue or monument.

The flag should be displayed over a street by vertically suspending it with the union facing north in an east and west street or east in a north and south street.

When flown with other flags on the same halyard, the U.S. flag should always be at the peak. When others are flown on adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag is hoisted first and lowered last.

In the chancel of a church or on a speaker’s platform, the flag should be placed in a prominent position in front of the audience to the speaker’s right; other flags to the left.

When a flag is hoisted, lowered or passes in a parade, everyone should face the flag, stand at attention and salute. A man should remove his hat and hold it with his right hand over the heart.

If displayed vertically or horizontally flat against the wall on a speaker’s platform, or in a window, the flag should be spaced above and behind the speaker with the union at the flag’s own top right. Or, it may be suspended with its folds falling free as thought it were staffed.

ABOUT "ONE NATION UNDER GOD"

"One Nation Under God" is an American citizenship project of The National Exchange Club and its local Clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Its purposes are to strengthen individual and moral responsibility and dependence on God, a part of America’s truest tradition since the earliest settlements; to build greater respect for the history and meaning of our flag urging frequent recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; and to encourage regular attendance at religious services in praise and thanksgiving to almighty God for the blessings of liberty.

Material provided by:

"Stars and Stripes Forever, " Edited by John Winthrop Adams, Brompton Books Corp., 1992

Armbruster, Ann. "The American Flag," A First Book, 1991.

Debarr, Candice M. and Bonkowske, Jack W. "Saga of the American Flag." Harbinger House, 1990.