Celebrated on 12/28/2026
National Pledge of Allegiance Day, observed on December 28, commemorates the day in 1945 when the Pledge of Allegiance was officially recognized by the U.S. Congress. The Pledge was originally written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a socialist minister, and has undergone several changes, including the addition of "under God" in 1954.
National Pledge of Allegiance Day was established to honor the Pledge of Allegiance, which was first published in 1892 in "The Youth's Companion" magazine. Written by Francis Bellamy, the original Pledge read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The holiday itself was created by an act of Congress in 1945, designating December 28 as a day to recognize the Pledge's importance in American civic life.
Over time, the Pledge has evolved. In 1923, the words "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. The most significant change came in 1954, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill adding "under God" to distinguish the United States from atheist communist regimes. Today, National Pledge of Allegiance Day is observed in schools, government buildings, and civic organizations, often with ceremonies where people recite the Pledge together. It serves as a reminder of national unity and patriotic values.
The Pledge of Allegiance is recited by millions of schoolchildren each day, with an estimated 60 million students participating in the ritual nationwide. Francis Bellamy's original Pledge did not include the phrase "under God," which was added during the Cold War era. * The official hand gesture during the Pledge was a straight-arm salute (similar to the Nazi salute) until 1942, when it was changed to the hand-over-heart gesture due to its association with fascism.
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