CONGRESS GIVES OFFICIAL SANCTION TO "THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE"
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Congress of the United States today gave official sanction to "The Pledge of Allegiance" to the Flag.
The legislation, introduced earlier this year by Representative Herman P. Eberharter (D) Pennsylvania, amends the law adopted on June 22, 1942 by which "The Pledge of Allegiance" was formally included in the U.S. Code.*
*U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 4.
Source: rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com (12/28/2008)
The Pledge of Allegiance was originally composed by Francis Bellamy, a minister & Christian socialist, & 1st used in public schools on October 12, 1892 during Columbus Day celebrations.
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag & the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible with liberty & justice for all."*
*The Pledge was 1st published in "The Youth's Companion", SEPT 8, 1892.
Students Pledge to the Flag
1899
In 1923, the words "my Flag" were changed to "the Flag of the United States" so that newly arrived immigrants would not be confused as to pledging to the flag of their native country or to the flag of the United States.
One year later, "of America" was added to the Pledge.
Another addition came on June 14, 1954 when the phrase "Under God" was incorporated by a Joint Resolution of Congress.
"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."
December 28, 1962
JFK ISSUES PROCLAMATION ON EMANCIPATION
West Palm Beach, Florida (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation today declaring....
"The Emancipation Proclamation expresses our nation's policy, founded on justice & morality, & that it is fitting & proper to commemorate the centennial of the historic Emancipation Proclamation throughout the year 1963."
The Emancipation Proclamation
by W. Roberts (1864)
Library of Congress
President Kennedy will meet privately later today with the leaders of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Tomorrow JFK will officially welcome those freed from Castro's prison to the United States in a ceremony at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
December 28, 1964
"BAKER STREET" PREMIERS IN BOSTON
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) "Baker Street", a musical composed by Canadians Marion Grudeff & Ray Jessel, premiers today here in Boston following a 2 week run in Toronto.
The musical is based on the Sherlock Holmes mystery "A Scandal in Bohemia" by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Statue of Sherlock Holmes
Edinburgh
Photo by Siddharth Krish (2007)
The story is set in London in 1897 during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.*
*"Baker Street" opened at the Broadway Theater in New York City on Feb 16, 1965 where it played for 9 months.
The musical won a TONY AWARD for "Best Scene Design".
