
   At 7:00 p.m. (EDT) on Flag Day, June 14, Americans all across
the nation will pause to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our
Flag. While most of us know the words of the Pledge, there are a
large number who do not know of its origin.

   Mr. Francis Bellamy, an ordained minister of Rome, New York,
is credited with the authorship of the original Pledge.  It was
he, who on the eve of the 400th Anniversary of the discovery of
America, initiated a campaign for the establishment of a national
holiday on October 12, to celebrate the day on which Columbus
discovered America.  In his concept, he envisioned that flags
should be flown over every schoolhouse and public building from
coast to coast.

   In the material which he nation ally circulated, he wrote, "Let
the flag float over every schoolhouse in the land and the exercise
be such as shall impress upon our youth the patriotic duty of
citizenship." He also included the original 23 words of the Pledge
which he had developed.

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

  Thus it was that on Columbus Day in October 1892, the Pledge of
Allegiance was repeated by more than 12 million public school chil-
dren in every state of the union.

  The wording of the Pledge has been modified three times.  In
1923, the words "the flag of the United States of America" were
substituted for "my flag."  In 1924, "of America" were added. On
Flag Day 1954, the words "under God" became a part of the Pledge.
Thus the 23 words have become 31 words.

   By a Joint Resolution on June 9, 1966, the Congress requested
the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the
week in which June 14 occurs as National Flag Week and calling upon
citizens of the United States to display the flag during that
week.

   The idea of the annual PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
originated in 1980 at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in
Baltimore, Maryland.  Since then the concept has swept across the
country in a grassroots movement supported by a broad spectrum
of individuals, organizations, and businesses.

   The National Flag Day Founda tion, Inc. was created in 1982 "to
conduct educational programs throughout the United States in
promotion of National Flag Day and to encourage national patrio-
tism by promotion of the PAUSE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE."

  On June 20, 1985, the NinetyNinth Congress passed and Presi-
dent Reagan signed Public Law 9954 recognizing the PAUSE FOR THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE as part of Flag Day activities.  It is an
invitation urging all Americans to participate on June 14, 7:00
p.m. (EDT) in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The effect of this
simple ceremony, which transcends age, race, religion, national
origin and geographic differences, is a stimulating experience at
home and a sign of unity abroad.

