Nevada Appeal at 150: June 14, 1954: Flag allegiance pledge amended to include God

Flag allegiance pledge amended to include god

Washington, June 14 — (IP) — A new pledge of allegiance to the Flag, adding the words “under God,” was signed into law today by President Eisenhower.

Henceforth the pledge will conclude with the words: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

A few hours before the President signed the law, Sen. Homer Ferguson (R-Mich.) and Rep. Louis C. Rabaut (D-Mich.) solemnly read the new pledge as a new Flag, donated by the American Legion, was raised high over the Capitol dome.

Eisenhower said in a statement in signing the new law:

“From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country’s true meaning.

“Especially is this meaningful as we regard today’s world. Over the globe, mankind has been cruelly torn by violence and brutality and, by the millions, deadened in mind and soul by the prospect of atomic war. In this somber setting, this law and its effects today have profound meaning, In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in American’s heritage and future. In this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource, in peace or in war.”

This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.