Town of Stockton and village of Cassadaga historian John Sipos presented the history of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag in October.

CASSADAGA – Town of Stockton historian and Cassadaga village historian John Sipos spent portions of October informing various groups about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Sipos said the month was the anniversary of the pledge of allegiance.

The pledge of allegiance was written by a Baptist pastor Francis Bellamy to commemorate the 400th anniversary in 1892 of Christopher Columbus landing on North America in 1492.

The original pledge had 23 words in it, and was published in a magazine called the “Youth’s Companion.” On Oct. 12, 1892, it was first recited by 12 million school children at 2 in the afternoon.

On June 14, 1923, the words “to the flag of the United States” were added. Congress adopted the pledge in 1943. In June 1954, President Eisenhower added the words “one nation under God” as he had seen that phrase in a speech by President Abraham Lincoln. Today the pledge of allegiance has 31 words, 3 commas and one period at the end.

Sipos presented this historical talk to six organizations. Two senior citizen groups, one town meeting, one village board meeting, the SAR meeting and at a Church service the historical message was presented. Sipos reminded all that there is no pause in the phrase “one nation under God.” He said probably the reason many put in a pause is that when the children were first learning the pledge, they learned it in phrases.