The year 1992 is a birthday year for many events, including the centennial of the "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag." Most of us remember when as kindergarten pupils we were taught the words of the pledge, and how important we felt when we learned to recite it without making a mistake.

Standing straight and feeling 6 feet tall, (although we were much smaller), head up high, right hand over our heart, left arm straight at our side, body facing the flag, we recited: "I pledge allegiance to my flag. ..."

The teacher told us the story of the pledge, and why the flag had alternating red and white stripes numbering thirteen, for the first thirteen colonies whose residents stood up against the powerful British Army and fought to bring independence to the colonies, and turn the colonies into the United States. In the beginning the field of blue had thirteen stars, but when we learned the pledge, the stars numbered 48. Now there are 50.

Although we were only in kindergarten, we loved the flag, and loved to carry it when we marched in a room or street parade with the rest of the school. Today, when as adults, we recite the pledge at meetings, those early days of learning about the flag, and the pledge, often flash through our mind. James Bailey Upham knew what would happen when in 1892, he told his friend, Francis Bellamy, "Children should be taught this pledge when they are young. They will never forget it or what it means."

Upham was the circulation manager of a publication popular with young Americans in 1892, titled "The Youth's Companion." The Sept. 8 issue in 1892 was observing the 400th anniversary of the landing of Christopher Columbus in the "New World." It was also observing something about the Constitution, and Upham wanted a stirring patriotic expression or verse for young Americans to associate with the forefathers who gave so much of their lives to making this country become a caring, independent nation. But Upham did not write. He felt unable to put his feeling for the country and the flag, and his joy at America being a Christian country into words.

He approached his friend, Francis Bellamy, an associate editor of the magazine who had a talent expressing thoughts powerfully, explained what he wanted and asked for his help. Bellamy caught the spirit Upham felt and after several tries (and perhaps a prayer) wrote 23 words on a piece of paper. When Upham read the words, tears came to his eyes. "You have done a bigger thing than you realize tonight. These 23 words express the dream I've had for a year. They sum up the long movement to educate the children to love of country by means of the school flag. I can't help thinking that this flag pledge will live long after you and I are dead."

The pledge appeared in the September issue of the The Youth's Companion in 1892. The pledge has been recited ever since by Americans of all ages at meetings and whenever assemblies are held. The words proclaim the feeling Americans have for their country and their flag.

The year 1992 is the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage. Several months ago, replicas of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria left Polos, Spain, for the Canary Islands, to retrace Columbus' voyage and participate in the celebration that will take place in October in the "New World."

In order to give credit to the right person responsible for the Pledge of Allegiance, a committee was appointed to research the facts. The idea for the pledge was Upham's, the words were Bellamy's, except those that were changed for a more specific meaning. The United States Flag Association confirmed the pledge's author as Bellamy. Two historians, Charles C. Tansill and Bernard Mayo, and one political scientist, W. Reed West, concluded the matter on May 18, 1939, 47 years after the first publication of the Pledge. The words "my flag" were changed in 1923 to "the Flag of the United States." The words "of America" were added in 1924, and "under God" were included in 1954. We must never forget the idea for the pledge was Upham's, and without the idea there would not have been a pledge.