They knew the words by heart.

        I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America ...

Hailee Buterbaugh holds the flag while her kindergarten classmates recite the Pledge of Allegiance at Seipelt Elemenary School in Milford. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        At flag poles, in gymnasiums and at their desks, students at many of the nation's 107,000 primary and secondary schools joined in a synchronized Pledge of Allegiance Friday afternoon at the request of U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige.

        In Price Hill, Dominick Ciolino's voice crackled over the loudspeaker into classrooms across Whittier Elementary.

        “Will you please join me in honoring your country,” he began. “Hands on your hearts ... ”

        Mr. Paige asked students, teachers and parents to join other proud Americans in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at exactly 2 p.m. in a strong, unified voice as a show of patriotism.

ABOUT THE PLEDGE

Dr. John W. Baer, a historian and retired professor at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, has written an online history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Below are some excerpts:   • Francis Bellamy (1855-1931), a Baptist minister and Christian socialist, wrote the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance in August 1892.   • The original version read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”   • In October 1892, the word “to” was added so the pledge would read “and to the Republic for which it stands.”   • In 1923 and 1924 the National Flag Conference changed the pledge's words from “my flag” to “the flag of the United States of America.”   • In 1954, Congress added the words “under God” after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus.

        Celebration USA, a California-based non-profit organization created to strengthen instruction on the basic principles of American democracy, organized the event.

        ... and to the republic for which it stands ...

        In Warren County, the gathering at Lebanon Christian School was small, but junior high students took the words seriously.

        “It means that I'm pledging myself for freedom, and that I'm being loyal to my country,” said Lelia Brandt, a seventh-grader. “And that if anything would happen that I would do anything to help,”

        What some may not have known is the history of those words, which date to a version written in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy.

        John W. Baer, a retired professor at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, has written an online history of the pledge. The words were first published, he said, in the The Youth's Companion, a leading family magazine of the day.

        It was changed later that year and again in 1923 and 1924.

        ... one nation under God, indivisible ...

        At Fairview German Language School in Clifton Heights, Principal Karen L. Mulligan read part of Mr. Paige's letter to students and teachers, explaining why the 530-person student body had been assembled: to show unity and patriotism.

        “Together, we can send a loud and powerful message that will be heard around the world,” Mr. Paige wrote. “America is "one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.'”

        Before reciting the pledge and singing “America the Beautiful,” Kiante Williams and his first-grade classmate Bryan Pruden held a large flag steady.

        “When I was 5, that's when I learned to pledge allegiance to the flag,” said 6-year-old Kiante. “It means to me that God made the flag for us so that God is always with the flag when someone is holding it.”

        Six-year-old Bryan added: “It means I like America and it makes me feel good. It kind of makes me feel like I'm the president.”

        ... with liberty and justice for all.

        In Elsmere, Jessy Kirkwood, 12, one of three student council members at St. Henry School in Elsmere who led the pledge, said it was good for the school to come together to understand what the statement means.

        “The pledge isn't just words,” the seventh-grader said. “It's something that stands for our freedom.”

        Enquirer reporters Jennifer Mrozowski, Cindy Schroeder and Sarah Buehrle contributed to this report.

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