"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands- one nation indivisible-with liberty and justice for all."

On September 8,1892, the Boston based "The Youth's Companion" magazine published a few words for students to repeat on Columbus Day that year. Written by Francis Bellamy,the circulation manager and native of Rome, New York, and reprinted on thousands of leaflets, was sent out to public schools across the country. On October 12, 1892, the quadricentennial of Columbus' arrival, more than 12 million children recited the Pledge of Allegiance, thus beginning a required school-day ritual.

At the first National Flag Conference in Washington D.C., on June14, 1923, a change was made. For clarity, the words "the Flag of the United States" replaced "my flag". In the following years various other changes were suggested but were never formally adopted.

It was not until 1942 that Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance. One year later, in June 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that school children could not be forced to recite it. In fact,today only half of our fifty states have laws that encourage the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom!

In June of 1954 an amendment was made to add the words "under God". Then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

National Flag Day Foundation

As host of the U.S. Flag Page, I am pleased to announce the presence on the World Wide Web of the National Flag Day Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland. I just became aware of NFDF on June 12th,1996, so I am unable to include all of the details in time for their annual celebration. A summary of the event is as follows...

The annual ceremony, sponsored by the non-profit National Flag Day Foundation, is held each year at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and is open to the public. This years program will celebrate the 1996 Olympic spirit. The program begins at 6:05 p.m. with a band concert by the 229th Maryland Army National Guard Band. The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited throughout the country at precisely 7:00 p.m. (EDT). Also included will be a fly-over by A-10 Jets of the 175th Tactical Fighter Group of the Maryland Air National Guard and a sky diving exhibition by the Maryland Army National Guard Demonstration Parachute Team. The U.S. Coast Guard Precision Drill Team and the Monumental City Ancient Fife and Drum Corps will also perform. The National Anthem will be sung by Mr. Melvin Lowery, of the Baltimore and New York Opera Companies. Other musical selections will be performed by the Baltimore Police Youth Choir, a group of 50 young people from the ages of 10 to18. The evening will conclude with a spectacular Zabelli Fireworks display. Alan Walden of WBAL Radio will serve as master of ceremonies.

The public is invited to bring picnic suppers. Commercial food service is limited. Parking is available at the Locust Point Marine Terminal and the Naval Reserve Base near the Fort. Street parking is allowed along East Fort Avenue and the MTA bus stops at the entrance to the Fort.