Pledge of Allegiance Day Date in the current year: December 28, 2024

The Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic verse that promises allegiance to the United States flag and the country. Its fifth and current version goes like this: “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.”

In 1887, Captain George T. Balch created the first version of the pledge to teach patriotism to public school students, especially children of immigrants. Although Balch’s pledge wasn’t a direct predecessor to the current Pledge of Allegiance, it definitely deserves a mention.

The verse that would evolve into the present-day Pledge was written by Baptist minister Francis Bellamy for a 1892 issue of The Youth’s Companion, a popular children’s magazine. It was first published on September 8, 1892 as part of the Columbus Day observance commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the New World.

Since then, the text of the Pledge has been amended four times. The last amendment was introduced in 1954; it added the words “under God” to the Pledge, which caused some controversy. The Pledge of Allegiance is regularly recited in public schools in most states and at various government meetings; the recital of the Pledge opens every session of the United States Congress.

There have been several attempts to establish National Pledge of Allegiance Day over the years. In the 1970s, for example, there was a movement in support of celebrating Pledge of Allegiance Day on April 30 to commemorate the anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration. 

In 1989, the House of Representatives passed a resolution designating September 8, 1989 as National Pledge of Allegiance Day to commemorate the day when the Pledge first appeared in print. In 2004, the Senate passed a resolution designating June 14, 2004 as National Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Day to reaffirm the importance of the national flag as a unique symbol of the country’s ideals. It coincided with Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the United States Flag in 1777.

However, both celebrations were one-off and didn’t become an annual tradition. The origins of Pledge of Allegiance Day that is celebrated annually on December 28 are unclear, but the choice of the date makes sense because on this day in 1945, the United States Congress formally recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and gave it its official name. Although Pledge of Allegiance Day isn’t a federal observance, it is celebrated by patriots across the nation.

How can you observe Pledge of Allegiance Day? Recite the Pledge of Allegiance with your family, learn more about the history of the United States flag and the Pledge of Allegiance or teach your kids the things you already know, and spread the word about the observance on social media with the hashtag #PledgeOfAllegianceDay.