September 8, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, September 8.
On September 8, 1892, a Baptist pastor named Francis Bellamy published a patriotic poem - a pledge. The Pledge of Allegiance was intended to be part of a very special nationwide holiday, the 400th anniversary of the discovery, in 1492, of America by Christopher Columbus. And it was part of a movement to instill a love for country and flag in the hearts and minds of school children. Within a year, the movement placed an American flag in front of over 25,000 schools.
Bellamy’s pledge was designed to be recited in 15 seconds and consisted of 23 words. The pledge I learned as a schoolboy in the 1960’s had 25 words. And you probably know what those two extra words were, don’t you? On Flag Day, June 14,1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill from Congress adding them to the historic recitation. Our Declaration of Independence mentions God, as do all of our favorite patriotic songs. And since that day in 1954... so does our pledge.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
