The pledge was meant to echo the sentiments and ideals of Bellamy's cousin, Edward Bellamy, an author of Looking Backward and other socialist utopian novels, according to pledge expert John Baer.

Bellamy crafted it as a resonating oration to bolster the idea that the middle class could fashion a planned political and social economy, equitable for all, Baer said.

After a proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison, the pledge was first used in public schools on Oct. 12, 1892, during Columbus Day observances.

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

There were those who claimed The Youth's Companion editor James B. Upham penned the famous pledge, but the U.S. Flag Association ruled in 1939 to recognize Bellamy as the author.

The pledge has been changed a few times since. For Flag Day in 1924, "the flag of the United States of America" was officially adopted as a substitution for the phrase "my flag."

In 1954, the words "under God" were added, after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's service organization, and other religious leaders who sermonized that the pledge needed to be distinguished from similar orations used by "godless communists."

The Pledge of Allegiance now reads: "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."

The prospect of atomic war between world superpowers so moved President Dwight D. Eisenhower that he directed Congress to add the two small but controversial words.

"From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and every rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty," Eisenhower wrote at the time.

In 1988, the elder George Bush made the pledge a presidential campaign issue after Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis vetoed a bill requiring teachers to recite the pledge. Some Republicans sought to require a recital in Congress, but House Speaker Jim Wright, D-Texas, soon casually and voluntarily started a morning recital.

The Senate began reciting the pledge on June 24, 1999, after passing a resolution at the urging of Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H.

There is some protocol when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Uniformed military personnel face the flag and give the military salute. Civilians stand at attention or place the right hand over the heart. Men traditionally remove their hats.

Now what does this mean to those who recite the pledge?

***  Looking at the words Liberty & Justice; we find the real purpose of the United States of America!

 Liberty is the ability to express your freedom of choice!  This is what God gave each human...   This is what Satan has attempted to take from everyone on this earth!  Most of the grief in life is the result of people losing their liberty (freedom) either voluntary or through evil intent!  The word is  Liberty...

 Justice is what we all deserve, yet it should only be Righteous Justice... This is the proper and balanced justice we deserve...  Here in this world we need to be sure that justice is meaded out in a fair manner!

 Actually the two words represent the intent and purpose of Our Heavenly Father for our eternal joy!

*** This subject will be developed  more in future posts, so stop back!