On October 12, 1892, many U.S. public school students recited the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time as part of Columbus Day observances. The pledge had been written the year before by Francis Bellamy. It was used during a national school ceremony marking the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage. Over time, the words of the pledge were revised, including the addition of “under God” in the 1950s. Daily recitation became a regular practice in many schools and government meetings. The pledge remains a subject of debate about patriotism, religion, and freedom of expression.
