At a signal from the Principal the pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to the side, face the Flag. Another signal is given; every pupil gives the flag the military salute -- right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with the forehead and close to it. Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” At the words, “to my Flag,” the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.
– From The Youth’s Companion, 65 (1892): 446–447
The Pledge of Allegiance
Written in: 1892
By: Francis Bellamy
First National Recitation: First nationally recognized Columbus Day, 1892
(Quadricentenniel of Columbus’ arrival in the “New World”)
Original words: I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.[v]
“Under God” added: 1948-1954 (language was not officially adopted by the U.S. government until Flag Day, 1954).[vi]
The Bellamy Salute was commonly used along with the pledge up until it became
increasingly confused with the Roman salute adopted by the Italians and Nazis in WWII.
FDR encouraged saluting with one’s hand over heart, a practice officially adopted on Flag
Day of 1942.[vii] By this point, however, the salute was already being used as propaganda to
label various public figures – Charles Lindbergh, for instance – as Nazis.
[i] Fenno Jacobs, “A group of U.S. schoolchildren performing the old-style Bellamy salute,” May 23-30 1942, United States Office of War Information, in Library of Congress, accessed 12 October 2010, http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8d34748/.
[ii] Fenno Jacobs, “A group of U.S. schoolchildren performing the old-style Bellamy salute,” May 23-30 1942, United States Office of War Information, in Library of Congress, accessed 12 October 2010, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8d35043/
[iii] David Bransby, “Three Thirds of the Nation. Members of the fifth grade, Chcremoya public school of Hollywood, pledge allegiance to the flag during the War Production Board's (WPB) presentation, Three Thirds of the Nation at Hollywood's Radio City on May 27,” Farm Security Administration, in Library of Congress, accessed 12 October 2010, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/oem2002008673/PP/.
[iv] Francis Benjamin Johnston, “Pledge of allegiance to the flag, 8th Division,” 1899(?), Library of Congress, accessed 12 October 2010, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2001703605/.
[v] Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 4, US Code
[viii] “CAL & Burt Wheeler - 1941 Madison Sq Garden America First Rally.”Lindbergh Kidnapping Hoax, last updated 2005, accessed 12 October 2010, http://www.lindberghkidnappinghoax.com/bergs.html.
