Pledge of Allegiance Day– December 28, 2021

For much of us, the Pledge of Allegiance was something we understood by heart and recited each early morning in school. With our right-hand men over our hearts and our eyes cast up at the flag on the wall, we were taught to reveal our patriotism. The history of the Pledge is fraught and long with debate in recent years, so no individual American’s experience with it is universal! Today, the Pledge of Allegiance goes as follows:

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

HISTORY OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY
The very first iteration of a patriotic Pledge of Allegiance was penned in 1885 by Civil war veteran Colonel George Balch, however it shares practically no resemblances to the Pledge of Allegiance many of us found out in elementary school! It wasn’t until 1892 that Francis Bellamy, an editor at the children’s magazine “The Youth’s Companion”, was asked to compose a patriotic verse to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus touching down on the continent that the main initial version of the Pledge was composed.

Bellamy, who was both a former Baptist minister and a Christian socialist, was motivated by the French ideas of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” while writing the Pledge. What he developed is similar to what is recited in schools today, leaving out the expression “under God”– however we’ll get around to explaining that.

Over the late 1800s and early 1900s, the pledge was extensively adopted in schools, and Balch’s Pledge was dropped. Little tweaks were made in the text, but the significance stayed unchanged. For instance, today we state “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,” which wasn’t constantly the case! The National Flag Conference included the phrase “of the United States of America” in 1923 and 1924. Congress officially embraced the Pledge in 1942, declaring that it must be recited with one’s right-hand man over one’s heart.

One of the more significant modifications took place in 1954 when President Eisenhower asked Congress to add the questionable expression “under God” to the text. This was an effort to differentiate the American way in communist times. There has actually likewise been excellent argument over whether schools should require children to recite the pledge– even prior to the spiritual addition. One 1940 ruling, which forced kids to say the pledge, was quickly overturned by a 1943 judgment. Jehovah’s Witnesses presented significant difficulties to the necessary pledge in the 1940s and 1930s, as they discovered it to be a form of idolatry and went against their religious beliefs.

In 2004, there was a ruling that children did not need to mean the pledge. This followed a 2002 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case in which an atheist, whose daughter would quickly begin school, argued that the pledge was an unconstitutional endorsement of monotheism. In between 2006 and 2015, there have been over 5 substantial lawsuit challenging- or somehow related to the expression “under God”– the most recent 2015 judgment specified that the phrase did not break any atheist rights.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY TIMELINE
1885
The Pledge’s Precursor is Penned
Colonel Balch prepares the very first pledge of allegiance in 1885, though it is not extensively adopted and takes pleasure in just short-lived popularity.

1892
Bellamy Composes the Pledge
” The Youth’s Companion” editor Francis Bellamy writes what we now call the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of the anniversary of Columbus touching down in North America.

1942
Pledge is Adopted by Congress
It isn’t up until 1942 that Congress officially acknowledges the Pledge of Allegiance as we know it today.

1954
Eisenhower Adds “under God”
During the Cold War, Eisenhower prompts Congress to include the phrase “under God” to the words “one Country”. This questionable relocation is initially planned to distance America from Communism and causes hot debate.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY FAQS
Where is National Pledge of Allegiance Day celebrated?
The United States.

Are there other National holidays on December 28?
Yes! December 28 is likewise Nationwide Call a Buddy Day, National Chocolate Candy Day, and National Download Day.

Are there other National patriotic vacations?
Yes! A few of the most noteworthy other vacations in honor of the United States are Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Self-reliance Day, and Columbus Day.

HOW TO OBSERVE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY
Discover the history
Very first penned in August of 1892 by Francis Bellamy, the Pledge has actually definitely progressed over the centuries– along with the general public’s opinion of it. Today, hang around researching simply how the Pledge happened.

Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Perhaps apparent, however a great method to celebrate Pledge of Allegiance Day is by doing simply that– pledge your allegiance! It’s a fantastic way to affirm your patriotism and be advised of a crucial part of American history if you have not recited the Pledge considering that youth.

Post #PlegeOfAllegianceDay on social networks
After you have actually revitalized your memory on the Pledge of Allegiance, post about it to get the word out on Pledge of Allegiance Day. You could influence patriotism in somebody in your circle, or lead friends to better understand the history of the Pledge.

5 REALITIES ABOUT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Lines were added
The controversial end of the line “one Country under God” was not initially composed by doing this! The phrase “under God” was included the 1900s.

There was some confusion about who really wrote it
2 editors, James B. Upham and Francis Bellamy, were both thought to have possibly composed the pledge, but the author has because been shown to be Bellamy.

Jehovah’s Witnesses disagreed with it
Arguing that it was against their religious beliefs, a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses opposed the 1943 judgment that kids must say the pledge in school.

There is a rules
Appropriate rules while reciting the Pledge consist of military members saluting, males removing their hats, and residents positioning their right-hand men on their hearts.

It once stated “My flag”
Where today we state “the flag of the United States of America,” the original Pledge merely stated “the Flag.”

WHY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY IS IMPORTANT
It’s patriotic
There’s no better way to reaffirm your love for your country than taking the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge is indicated to make Americans proud of our land and people, so commemorating Pledge of Allegiance day is really patriotic!

It’s a part of our history
The Pledge of Allegiance had a hard journey in history to get here where it is today. Looking into the Pledge’s transformation throughout distinct periods of history gives insight into America’s background– it’s worth a bit of reading.

It honors people who serve the nation
From government officials to military members, many individuals who selflessly serve our nation feel honored to hear people reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s a method to thank them for their sacrifices!