Happy Birthday To The Pledge of Allegiance — Dave’s Diary

This Day in History was a coming-out party for the  "The Pledge of Allegiance," written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy to honor the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in America. The Pledge first appeared in The Youth's Companion children’s magazine with Bellamy hoping that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.In its original form it read: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1923, the words, "the flag of the United States of America" were added and the pledge was altered again in 1954 in response to the Communist threat of the times.

President Eisenhower encouraged Congress at that time to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today --

but in its original form it debuted on this day 122 years ago.