It was on this date in 1892, that the Pledge of Allegiance was first published.  It appeared in The Youth’s Companion.  That first publication did not include “under God.”  Francis Bellamy was the writer of these words, and he was a Baptist minister.  The publication came out to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in the Americas.  The pledge was to encourage patriotism amongst young people in schools.  President Eisenhower added “under God” in 1954, when the atheist Soviet Union became a threat.  And, of course, it is those two words which have sparked much controversy in recent years.  It did originally read: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  Mandatory recitation of this pledge was enacted at every flag-raising ceremony by the author himself who became the head of the National Education Association.

For more information:

http://famousdaily.com/history/pledge-allegiance-recited-first-time-history.html

http://worldhistoryproject.org/1892/9/8/the-pledge-of-allegiance-is-first-published-in-the-youths-companion-magazine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance

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