Baptist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931) wrote the Pledge of Allegiance in August 1892, wording it for use by any country. It read:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands,
one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.The original Bellamy salute began with a military salute (right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with the forehead and close to it), and after reciting the words “to the flag,” the right hand was extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.
Shortly thereafter, the pledge was begun with the right hand over the heart, and after reciting “to the Flag,” the arm was extended toward the Flag, palm-down. (I remember doing this in grade school.)
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In 1923, the Pledge was changed to read:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.(In World War II, the salute too much resembled the Nazi salute, so it was changed to keep the right hand over the heart throughout.)
In 1954, responding to the threat of Communism, two more words were added:
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.
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Let all the world look to me for salvation!
For I am God; there is no other.
I have sworn by myself, and I will never go back on my word,
for it is true—that every knee in all the world shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall swear allegiance to my name.
Isaiah 45:22-23 Living Bible
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“Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage;
We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves
a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt