<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE><STRONG>I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Those are the words that Francis Bellamy wrote in August 1892 and right off the bat a change was made with the addition of the word "to" in October 1892.</STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>In 1924 the National Flag Conference and the Daughters of the American Revolution changed the wording from "my Flag" to "the Flag of the United States of America". The original author, Bellamy, disliked the change. . . but, hey, that's tough, Frank.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Now that is the Pledge of Allegiance I learned in First Grade a very long time ago. It wasn't until 1954 that Congress added "under God" . . . and I remember for the first month or so some of the kids struggled with the new wording. The Knights of Columbus had a hand in that change.</STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>So, is the Pledge really all that important. . . or is it just a political tool that reflects the current mood? Recent suggestions have been made to add "equality for all" and some prolife groups would like the addition of "all born and unborn". . . . </STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>So there you have it. . . I think there's a pretty good chance that one day your grandkids will be learning something different on the first day of school.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV class=RTE><STRONG>Ellen A. Roskovich</STRONG></DIV></div></html>