"I pledge Allegiance to the Flag
Of the United States of America.
And to the Republic for which is stands,
One Nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all."
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Francis Bellamy, a Baptist preacher, wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance in 1892; it was published in a family magazine, "The Youth Companion."

When he first wrote it, the words were a little different:

"I pledge Allegiance to my Flag
And the Republic for which it stands,
One Nation, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all."

In 1924, the National Flag Conference, under the guidance of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and the American Legion, changed the words to "...the Flag of the United States of America." The rest of the pledge remained basically the same until 1954, Congress added the words "Under God."

Congress also established a ceremony to attend the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance (Conduct During the Pledge, U. S. Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Section 172): "The Pledge of Allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute."

Now, the Ninth Court in California has banned saying, "Under God," declaring it is unconstitutional. An athiest in California questioned the constitutionality of the Pledge, saying that it infringes on his rights on raising his daughter; she should not be forced to recite the pledge because the words "Under God" doesn't separate Church from State, since they don't believe in God. (As of this writing, the Court has decided to stay its decision indefinately, pending appeals.)

Our Nation was founded on the Faith of God by the earliest settlers to our Nation:

In 1620, 41 citizens on the Mayflower signed a contract that provided the basis for law in the New World. It states, (original spellings intact): "IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereigne Lord, King James, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, of Great Britaine, France and Ireland kind, defender of the Faith, etc. having undertaken, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, and ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first Colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly and mutually IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill blody politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and convenient of the generall good of the Colonie unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the 11 of November, in the year of the raigne of our sovereigne lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fiftie fourth. Anno Dom. 1620."

The most important document in our Nation's history, the Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, also says in part: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of NATURE'S GOD entitle them, a decent respect to the to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..."

President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, given on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the National Cemetary, said in part, "...It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this Nation, UNDER GOD, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

The Great Seal of the United States depicts a stone pyramid; this stands for democracy: one of strength and durability. At the top of the Seal is the all-seeing, ever-present Eye of God, with the Latin "Annuit Coeptis (The Eye of Providence Has Favored Our Undertaking)." The Seal is on the currency of the United States of America. So is the slogan, "IN GOD We Trust."

Many of the patriotic songs of America invoke God's name, or make references to Him. In the National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," the last (usually unsung) verse says, "O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand/ Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation!/ Blest with vic'try and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land/ Praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a Nation!/ Then conquor we must, when our cause is just/ And this be our motto: "IN GOD IS OUR TRUST," / And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave/ O'er the Land of the Free/ And the Home of the brave."

Others include "America" ("My country, 'tis of thee/ Sweet Land of Liberty/ Of thee I sing"); the fourth verse states, "Our father's God, to Thee/ Author of Liberty/ To Thee we sing./ Long may our Land be bright/ With Freedom's Holy Light;/ Protect us by Thy Might,/ Great God, our King!".

"America the Beautiful." "America! America! God shed His Grace on thee!/ And crown thy good with brotherhood/ From sea to shining sea!"

"Battle Hymn of the Republic": "Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the coming of the Lord/ He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored/ He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword/ His truth is marching on/ [CHORUS] Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! His Truth is marching on."

"God Bless America." "God, bless America, Land that I love/ Stand beside her And guide her/ Through the night with a Light from Above./ From the mountains To the prairies/ To the oceans White with foam.../ God bless America, my home sweet home... God bless America, my home, sweet home."

Now, with this decision by the Ninth Circuit Court in California, our forefathers must be spinning in their graves.

When a Nation denies God...the Nation goes UNDER.

Lord, have mercy on my soul, and forgive me my tresspasses. Save me from Your wrath. I repent of my wrongdoings. In Jesus' Name I pray, AMEN.

And May God Bless America.
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I pledge Allegiance to the Flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One Nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible
With Liberty and Justice for all.

Dang...said it again, broke the law again!
What are they gonna do, ARREST ME??