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Famous People of the Finger Lakes

Francis Bellamy (1855-1931)

Bellamy worked for the children's adventure story magazine, The Youth's Companion. In 1888, in an attempt to promote patriotism, the magazine asked its young readers to contribute money to help buy flags for schools. The children contributed enough money to buy 30,000 flags. Bellamy and co-worker James Upham then came up with the idea of a school celebration for the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas. They wanted the children to raise their flags and repeat something. So Bellamy composed his "Pledge of Allegiance."

I pledge allegiance to my flag

and to the Republic

for which it stands--

One Nation indivisible

with liberty and justice for all.

This pledge was printed in the next edition of The Youth's Companion. It is said that on Columbus Day in 1892, 12 million children recited the pledge. But the "Pledge of Allegiance" wasn't required by Congress until October 1942.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bellamy