Submitted by MAJ. Silas W. Bass

Historian General

Francis Bellamy (1855-1931) wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for the observance of the 400th Anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. Since 1891, he had been working on a journal for juveniles entitled, “Youth’s Companion.” He worked closely with James B. Upham, the editor of the paper.

Bellamy’s job on the paper was to promote patriotism and the flying of the flag over the public schools. He was made chairman of the executive committee for the national public school celebration of Columbus Day in 1892.

Bellamy visited President Benjamin Harrison to ask him to endorse the idea of a flag over every schoolhouse and the teaching of patriotism in all the schools. On June 21, 1892, President Harrison signed the proclamation that said, “Let the national flag float on every schoolhouse in the country and the exercises be such as shall impress upon our youth the patriotic duties of American citizenship!”

Francis Bellamy wrote these now famous words, first printed in “Youth’s Companion.” September 8, 1892:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

At the Second National Flag Conference held in Washington, D.C., on Flag Day, 1924, they added the words, “of America.”

A further change was made in the Pledge by House Joint Resolution 243, approved by President Eisenhower on June 14, 1954, which added the words, “under God,” so that it now reads:

“one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”