U.S.A.’s 250th Anniversary: Birthplace of the Pledge of Allegiance

_{Mount Morris New York State Historic Marker (Emily Mike)}

_{By Andrew Valentine and Emily Mike}

This year, The United States of America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence. 

Our Constitution was written in Philadelphia, while our Founding Fathers were fighting for independence.

The Star Spangled Banner was written in Maryland, during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry.

But the Pledge of Allegiance, something we grew up reciting every morning, was written right here in a small town just outside of Geneseo, New York. 

_{Town of Mount Morris (Explore Genesee Valley)}

OswegoNow’s own Emily Mike is a resident of Mount Morris, and grew up a few streets away from the iconic Bellamy household. 

_{Francis Bellamy’s Childhood Home (Explore Genesee Valley)}

She recently took a trip to her hometown to gather information about Francis Bellamy and the importance he holds in the small town. 

“The pledge was originally written in 1892 as kind of a result of a new patriotic campaign by the Youth’s Companion Magazine.” Said Holly Watson, Livingston County Historian. “Francis Bellamy was an editor at that magazine and he was apparently tasked by his boss to create the salute to the flag.”

The pledge was a way to encourage young patriotism in the ever growing landscape of 1800’s America.

_{Students Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance ~ Late 1800’s. (Smithsonian National Museum of American History)}

When the Pledge was first written, Bellamy’s first draft could have been used for any country:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” 

In 1923, the Pledge was changed to include “to the flag”. And in 1954, the line “under God” was added.

_{Page from the “Youth’s Companion Magazine.” (Livingston County Historian)}

Yale Student Ellie Lonsberry lives in Bellamy’s childhood home, and has the upmost appreciation for the historic importance her home represents. 

“This town is filled with old houses. It’s filled with houses from this time period, and in any one of them you can think of the history that was here… but when you’re told, this is a place where history happened… you look for it.”

As we approach the official 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4th, it’s important to remember that even the smallest villages can hold big history for America.