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 pledge of allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy. It was first given wide publicity through the official program of the National Public Schools Celebration of Columbus Day, which was printed in The Youth’s Companion of September 8, 1892 and at the same time sent out in leaflet form to schools throughout the country. School children first recited the Pledge of Allegiance this way: ” I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation individual, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

“The flag of the United States” replaced the words “my flag” in 1923 because some foreign-born people might have in mind the flag of the country of their birth instead of the United States flag. A year later, “of America” was added after “United States.”

No form of the pledge received official recognition by Congress until June 22, 1942, when the pledge was formally included in the U.S. Flag Code. The official name of the Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945, when Congress passed a law, which added the words “under God” after one nation.

Originally, the pledge was was said with the right hand in the so-called “Bellamy Salute,” with the right hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body. Once Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942 Congress also established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.

The Flag Code specifies that any future changes to the pledge would have to be with the consent of the President

When to Display your Flag

• The flag should be displayed, from sunrise to sunset, on all days when the weather permits, especially on:
• New Year’s Day, January 1.
• Inauguration Day.
• Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Third Monday in January.
• Lincoln’s Birthday.
• Washington’s Birthday, February 22.
• Easter Sunday.
• Mother’s Day, Second Sunday in May.
• Armed Forces Day, Third Saturday in May.
• Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), Last Monday in May.
• Flag Day, June 14th.
• Independence Day, July 4th.
• Labor Day, First Monday in September.
• Constitution Day, September 17th.
• Columbus Day, October 12th.
• Navy Day.
• Veterans Day, November 11th.
• Thanksgiving Day, Fourth Thursday in November.
• Christmas Day, December 25th.
• Election Days (various).
• Federally observed dates of the above holidays which may be different from the actual dates.
• Such days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States.