[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            FRANCIS BELLAMY

  (Mr. COLLINS of New York asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. COLLINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 
Francis Bellamy, one of the most influential individuals from Mount 
Morris, New York. Francis Bellamy is the author of the Pledge of 
Allegiance.
  Today marks the 123rd anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance, which 
was first published in a magazine called ``The Youth Companion'' on 
September 8, 1892. The Pledge was initially written as part of a 
campaign to put American flags in every school in the country.
  In its original form, it read: ``I pledge allegiance to my Flag and 
the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, indivisible, with liberty 
and justice for all.''
  In 1923, the words, ``the Flag of the United States of America'' were 
added. In 1954, Congress added the words ``under God,'' creating the 
31-word pledge we say every day.
  Bellamy's words are recited millions of times every day and are 
ingrained in our society as an expression of national pride and 
patriotism.

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