The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath
of loyalty to the national flag and the
republic of the United States of America,
originally composed by Francis Bellamy in
1892.
The Pledge of Allegiance has undergone several revisions
since it was initially written back in 1892 by Baptist
minister Francis Bellamy. The last significant change
came in 1954 during the midst of the Cold War,
when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a congressional
resolution adding the words "under God".
This revision would have never happened without
advocacy by the Knights of Columbus.
In a letter thanking the Order, President Eisenhower
stated that these words "remind Americans that
despite our great physical strength we must remain humble.
They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and
hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone
give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded."
The original Pledge had no references to God. However,
the Knights personally inserted "under God" into
their recitations at the opening of Fourth Degree
assembly meetings in 1951. Momentum grew within the
Knights to petition the United States Congress to revise the Pledge.
In 1954, due the the efforts of the Knights of Columbus
President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law. The Pledge
is predominantly sworn
by children in public schools in response to
state laws requiring the Pledge to be
offered. Congressional sessions open with
the swearing of the Pledge, as do government
meetings at local levels, meetings held by
the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts of
America, other organizations, and many
sporting events.
According to the United States Flag Code, the Pledge:
"should be rendered by standing
at attention facing the flag with the right
hand over the heart.
When not in uniform men should remove any
non-religious headdress with their right
hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the
hand being over the heart. Persons in
uniform should remain silent, face the flag,
and render the military salute."