<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> 1954 (current version) 4 U.S.C. § 4 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> "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 ." </Td> </Tr> <P> The Pledge of Allegiance is an oath of allegiance to the United States, addressed to both the flag and the Republic . It was composed by Rear Admiral George Balch in 1887, and revised by Francis Bellamy in 1892 . In 1942 it was formally adopted by Congress . Congress gave it the name The Pledge of Allegiance in 1945 . In 1954 the words "under God" were added . </P> <P> Though many countries have oaths of allegiances for specific purposes, the US remains one of the few to use such an oath in childhood education . </P>

When did we start the pledge of allegiance