On
October 12, 1892, the Bellamy salute was demonstrated as the hand gesture to
accompany the Pledge of Allegiance in the United States. The inventor of the
saluting gesture was James B. Upham, junior partner and editor of The Youth's
Companion. Bellamy recalled Upham, upon reading the pledge, came into the
posture of the salute, snapped his heels together, and said "Now up there
is the flag; I come to salute; as I say 'I pledge allegiance to my flag,' I
stretch out my right hand and keep it raised while I say the stirring words
that follow."
As
fascism took hold in Europe, controversy grew over the use of the Bellamy
salute given its similarity to the Roman Salute. When war broke out in 1939,
the controversy intensified. School boards around the country revised the
salute to avoid the similarity. There was a counter-backlash from the United
States Flag Association and the Daughters of the American Revolution, who felt
it inappropriate for Americans to have to change the traditional salute because
others had later adopted a similar gesture.
On June
22, 1942, at the urging of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, Congress passed Public Law 77-623, which codified the etiquette used to
display and pledge allegiance to the flag. This included use of the Bellamy
salute, specifically that the pledge "be rendered by standing with the
right hand over the heart; extending the right hand, palm upward, toward the
flag at the words 'to the flag' and holding this position until the end, when
the hand drops to the side." Congress did not discuss or take into account
the controversy over use of the salute. Congress later amended the code on
December 22, 1942, when it passed Public Law 77-829. Among other changes, it
eliminated the Bellamy salute and replaced it with the stipulation that the pledge
"be rendered by standing with the right hand over the heart."
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