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.

We say the pledge of allegiance to the American flag every day to show our respect for our flag and to honor our country and what it means to us. Listed below is the meaning to the words of the pledge of allegiance.

Pledge	Solemn promise
Allegiance	Loyalty to a person or cause
Republic	Government which elects representatives to make decisions for the nation
Which it stands	The flag as a reminder or symbol of our nation
Nation	A community of people who share the same history, customs and country
Indivisible	Cannot be divided
Liberty	Freedom from unjust government control
Justice	Fair treatment

	Frances Scott Key (1779-1843)
“Then, in that hour of deliverance, my heart spoke. Does not such a country, and such defenders of their country, deserve a song?….” Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779 in western Maryland. He graduated from Johns College in Annapolis at age 17. By 1805, Key had established a law practice in Maryland. In August 1814, Key’s friend, Dr. William Beanes was taken prisoner by the British army. Key and a government prisoner of war exchange agent sailed down the bay on a truce ship and met the British fleet. Key negotiated the doctor’s release, but was detained by the British until after the attack on Fort McHenry. The ship that Key was on was 8 miles below the fort during the bombardment. It was from this site that he witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry. Thrilled by the sight of the flag and that the fort had not fallen; Key took a letter from his pocket, and began to write some verses on the back of it. Later, after the British fleet had withdrawn, Key completed his poem at the Baltimore Hotel. He then sent it to a printer and within a few days the poem was put to the music of an old English song. Both the new song and the flag became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Francis Scott Key died on January 11, 1843 of pleurisy. The flag he so honored flies day and night at Fort McHenry. The American flag that flew over Fort McHenry was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1912 on the condition that it would remain there forever.