<P> Originally composed by Captain George Thatcher Balch , ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) a Union Army Officer in the Civil War and later a teacher of patriotism in New York City Schools , the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States and to the republic of the United States of America . The form of the pledge used today was largely devised by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942 . The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945 . The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954 when the words `` under God '' were added . </P>
<P> Originally composed by Captain George Thatcher Balch , ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) a Union Army Officer in the Civil War and later a teacher of patriotism in New York City Schools , the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States and to the republic of the United States of America . The form of the pledge used today was largely devised by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942 . The official name of The Pledge of Allegiance was adopted in 1945 . The last change in language came on Flag Day 1954 when the words `` under God '' were added . </P>
when was the pledge of allegiance made official
when was the pledge of allegiance made official
formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942
formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942