Happy Birthday To The Pledge Of Allegiance

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen-hundred-and-ninety-two.  We all learned that in grade school but how many of us recall that our "Pledge of Allegiance," was written on this day in history by Francis Bellamy to honor the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in America.

One of KIT's loyal listeners, Byron Kent, called the show and suggested all the at-home, on-line kids should start their school day with saying the Pledge from home -Great idea, and perfect timing.

According to U.S.History-dot-org, The Pledge of Allegiance first appeared in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892.

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 in 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. 

"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."

Originally the pledge was started with your right hand over the heart, and when you got six words in, too the part where you said "to the Flag", you extended your arm, palm down, toward the Flag.  Picture that in your mind and you'll understand why that was changed in World War II.  The gesture of moving the hand from the heart out to the flag was a little too close  to the German's nazi salute, so America's pledge deportment was changed to keep the right hand over the heart throughout.

Sure it dates us and sure it's old school, but it's also awesome..check out an American treasure, the late, great Red Skelton, and an explanation of the Pledge of Allegiance.