The Guild 6-27-2002 The History of Our Pledge of Allegiance

6-27-2002

[BigWaveBetty]

The Pledge of Allegiance

On September 8, 1892 a Boston-based youth magazine "The Youth's Companion" published a 22-word recitation for school children to use during planned activities the following month to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. Under the title "The Pledge to the Flag", the composition was the earliest version of what we now know as the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

The October 11, 1892 Columbus Day celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the discovery of America was planned for years in advance, and anticipated much as modern Americans look forward to and plan for the advent of a new century. The United States had recovered from most of the effects of its Civil War that began 30 years earlier, and people from around the world were flocking to the "Land of Opportunity". The previous year almost a half million immigrants had entered the United States through the Barge Office in Battery Park, New York and on New Years day of 1892 the new Federal Bureau of Receiving's station at Ellis Island had opened.

Two men interested in both education and planned Columbus Day celebrations around our Nation's 44 states were Francis Bellamy and James Upham. To this day it is still unknown which of the two men actually authored the words that were to become the Pledge of Allegiance. It was published anonymously and not copyrighted. James Upham was an employee of the Boston publishing firm that produced "The Youth's Companion" in which it first appeared. Francis Bellamy was an educator who served as chairman of the National committee of educators and civic leaders who were planning the Columbus Day activities. What we do know for certain is that the words first appeared in the September 8, 1892 issue of "The Youth's Companion", and a month later more than 12 million school children recited the words for the first time in schools across the nation. Our Pledge of Allegiance was born, but like anything new, it took many years to "reach maturity", and underwent several changes along the way. That first Pledge of Allegiance read:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

October 11, 1892

After the Columbus Day celebration the Pledge to the Flag became a popular daily routine in America's public schools, but gained little attention elsewhere for almost 25 years. Finally, on Flag Day - June 14, 1923, the Pledge received major attention from adults who had gathered for the first National Flag Conference in Washington, D.C. Here their Conference agenda took note of the wording in the Pledge. There was concern that, with the number of immigrants now living in the United States, there might be some confusion when the words "My Flag" were recited. To correct this the pledge was altered to read:

I pledge allegiance to my the
Flag of the United States,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

June 14, 1923

The following year the wording was changed again to read:

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.

June 14, 1924

The Pledge of Allegiance continued to be recited daily by children in schools across America, and gained heightened popularity among adults during the patriotic fervor created by World War II. It still was an "unofficial" pledge until June 22, 1942 when the United States Congress included the Pledge to the Flag in the United States Flag Code (Title 36). This was the first Official sanction given to the words that had been recited each day by children for almost fifty years. One year after receiving this official sanction, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school children could not be forced to recite the Pledge as part of their daily routine. In 1945 the Pledge to the Flag received its official title as:

The Pledge of Allegiance

The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence 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."

This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal. Those words now read:

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.

June 14, 1954

The Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton
January 14, 1969

Click the flag to hear Red Skelton's entire speech.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

ALL PREVIOUS THREADS

[BigWaveBetty]

That BE is terrific! They're having a special on QVC today at noon and 9pm. I need some eye shadow so I think it's time to try some of theirs out. Love, love, love the face powder!

[BigWaveBetty]

I know whatever happens you'll come out on top!

You didn't get accosted by the vultures I hope!

The media swarms the first of the WorldCom employees to be fired June 28, 2002 in Clinton, Mississippi. The woman who is being interviewed is Kimberly Spencer who worked in the accounting office at the headquarters in Clinton. WorldCom announced June 25 the planned layoff of 17,000 workers and Fraud charges are pending against the company in the largest fraud case ever filed in U.S. history. (Suzi Altman/Reuters)

[BigWaveBetty]

Awwwwwww! this young lady will remember saying the pledge this particular day forever! :-)

U.S. President George W. Bush says the Pledge of Allegiance with schoolchildren from the Washington D.C. area during a fundraiser for Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) in Washington D.C., June 28, 2002. The federal appeals court judge who outraged the nation by declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional stayed his own order yesterday, blocking a ruling that was criticized and ridiculed across the country. REUTERS/Win McNamee

(note to self: GET BUSY WITH THE NEW THREAD! QUIT HAVING ALL THAT FUN!)

[mountaineer]

Tipper is looking a bit corn-fed. Here's a snippet from an AP story from Friday:

Al Gore's financial supporters attending his political retreat in Memphis, Tenn., this weekend probably will hear his wife Tipper tell them she would love to see him run again for president in 2004.

Mrs. Gore told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, "I think we have the opportunity to really begin fresh with our own organization and our own way of doing things." [As opposed to Karenna Gore's way, Tippsy?]

"All the signs I see say Al Gore's running for president, and I believe the nomination is his if he wants it," said Dane Strother, a Democratic media consultant who did not work with Gore in 2000 but works with more than a dozen congressional races around the country. "When Al Gore went to Florida, he set the Florida Democrats on fire." [Apparently taking over Janet Reno's duties as chief "setting people on fire" person]. link

Of course, the Gores demonstrate their real closeness to the people of Tennessee by buying another house. Why don't they live in the one they have? Too rural? Too near Albert's toxic waste dump?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former Vice President Al Gore ( news - web sites) and his wife, Tipper, have bought a $2.3 million home in Belle Meade, an affluent town of 3,000 bordering Nashville. The white frame, colonial-style home sits on a little over two acres filled with magnolia trees. The deed was signed June 17, records show.

Belle Meade, home to an exclusive country club, a botanical garden and art museum, is the nation's fifth-richest town. [Of course, the Democrats are the party of the working class.] The annual per-capita income is $104,908, more than five times the state average of $19,393.

Since Gore lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, the Gores have split their time between the family farm 40 miles east of Nashville, and a home in Arlington, Va., that has been in Tipper Gore's family for 64 years.

A Gore spokesman said earlier this year that the couple planned to move back to Nashville. Gore has been teaching classes at Fisk University and at Middle Tennessee State University. He also has joined a Los Angeles-based financial management firm, and is working on a book.

He plans a retreat this weekend in Memphis, when he could indicate whether he intends to make another run at the White House.AP link.

[daisyscarlett]

Clinton and Queen Noor...What a blast...And Big Al and the Tipster going home to Tara,,,I mean Bella Meade....I think the picture of the very smiling Clinton and Noor deserves a post here.....And I guess Naomi has finally convinced Al to wear those shields under his arms because there is no sign of sweat whatsoever in those pictures.....

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, left, Colombia's President Andres Pastrana, center, and Queen Noor of Jordan listen to music performed in the Rafael Nunez airport in Cartagena, 405 miles north of Bogota, Colombia, Friday, June 28, 2002. Clinton, who arrived Friday, and Pastrana are scheduled to address a conference on how the private sector can help Colombia resolve it long-simmering civil war, in which roughly 3,500 people are killed every year. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

[daisyscarlett]

Your grand daughter sounds like a blast....What fun....

Looks like codebreaker's time out is over. CB-we missed ya...What did ya did you do?

[daisyscarlett]

What is up with the Gore's? I mean, like, really, if they are serious about running again they need to get crackin on a weight loss program. And Tipper needs to see a hair stylist. Whadda they think, they can do a crash weight loss program right before the campaign? They need to get crackin on this thing now - Personal looks are important....

[BigWaveBetty]

New Thread!

Perhaps algore and tipper are going for the overwieght vote, his main platform will be: Eat all you want and I'll make the airlines fly you for FREE!

[lodwick]

That's SugarLumpkins! Yikes.
Thanks for the day's recap yesterday - good stuff.
What's up with the pond puds? Vanishing cream?