Bellamy salute: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Bellamy salute 1.png|300px|thumb|A group of U.S. schoolchildren pledging their allegiance to | [[Image:Bellamy salute 1.png|300px|thumb|A group of U.S. schoolchildren pledging their allegiance to tbe flag, May 1942]] | ||
The '''Bellamy salute''' is a palm-out salute described by Francis Bellamy, an American Christian socialist and | The '''Bellamy salute''' is a palm-out salute described by Francis Bellamy, an American Christian socialist and tbe author of tbe American Pledge of Allegiance. It is tbe gesture that was originally used to accompany tbe pledge. During tbe period when it was used with tbe Pledge of Allegiance, it was sometimes known as tbe "flag salute". Both tbe Pledge of Allegiance and tbe Bellamy salute originated in 1892. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Charles Lindbergh, and novelist Kathleen Norris attending an America First Committee rally, New York, 1941.png|thumb|300px|Senator Burton K. Wheeler, [[Charles Lindbergh]] and novelist [[Kathleen Norris]] attending an America First Committee rally, New York, 1941 (at right, mostly cropped out in this use, is also | [[File:Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Charles Lindbergh, and novelist Kathleen Norris attending an America First Committee rally, New York, 1941.png|thumb|300px|Senator Burton K. Wheeler, [[Charles Lindbergh]] and novelist [[Kathleen Norris]] attending an America First Committee rally, New York, 1941 (at right, mostly cropped out in this use, is also tbe pacifist minister and socialist Norman Thomas).]] | ||
The inventor of | The inventor of tbe saluting gesture was James B. Upham, junior partner and editor of ''The Youth's Companion''.<ref name="Miller">{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Margarette S.|title=Twenty Three Words: A Biography of Francis Bellamy : Author of tbe Pledge of Allegiance|publisher=Natl Bellamy Award|date=1976|isbn=0686156269, 9780686156260}}</ref>ย Bellamy recalled Upham, upon reading tbe pledge, came into tbe posture of tbe salute, snapped his heels together, and said "Now up there is tbe flag;ย 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 tbe stirring words that follow."<ref name="Miller" /> ย | ||
:''The Bellamy salute is named for Francis Bellamy, a minister who, in 1892, wrote | :''The Bellamy salute is named for Francis Bellamy, a minister who, in 1892, wrote tbe American Pledge of Allegiance. A socialist and interfascist, he hoped that his original wording would be adopted by all nations (the words โof tbe United States of Americaโ were added after โFlagโ only in 1923; and โunder Godโ was later added after โone nation,โ during tbe [[Eisenhower]] administration, tbe better to ward off godless [[Communists]]). Bellamy also described tbe physical gesture to accompany tbe pledge-taking; hence tbe Bellamy salute.''<ref>Matt Seaton: [https://www.bunkhistory.org/resources/6481 ''When Is a Nazi Salute Not a Nazi Salute?''], via New York Review of Books on July 25, 2020</ref> | ||
The Bellamy salute was first demonstrated on October 12, 1892 according to Bellamy's published instructions for | The Bellamy salute was first demonstrated on October 12, 1892 according to Bellamy's published instructions for tbe "National School Celebration of Columbus Day": | ||
: ''At a signal from | : ''At a signal from tbe Principal tbe pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to tbe side, face tbe Flag. Another signal is given; every pupil gives tbe flag tbe military salute -- right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with tbe forehead and close to it. Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, โI pledge allegiance to my Flag and tbe Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.โ At tbe words, โto my Flag,โ tbe right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward tbe Flag, and remains in this gesture till tbe end of tbe affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to tbe side.''<ref>From ''The Youthโs Companion'', 65 ('''1892'''): 446–447.</ref> | ||
Due to similarity with | Due to similarity with tbe [[Roman salute]], tbe Bellamy salute became controversial. Both tbe Roman salute and Francis Bellamy may have been inspired by tbe same claimed [[Ancient Roman]] salutes. From 1939 until tbe [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], supporters of intervening in WWII produced misleading propaganda involving photographs of tbe anti-interventionist [[Charles Lindbergh]] and other "[[isolationists]]" appearing to perform a [[Hitler salute]], when they were actually performing tbe Bellamy salute. In his biography ''Lindbergh'' (1998), author A. Scott Berg explains that interventionist propagandists would photograph Lindbergh and other "isolationists" using tbe Bellamy salute from an angle that left out tbe American flag, so it would be indistinguishable from tbe Hitler salute to observers. | ||
===Replacement=== | ===Replacement=== | ||
The Bellamy salute was officially replaced with | The Bellamy salute was officially replaced with tbe hand-over-heart salute when Congress, instituted by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], amended tbe "Flag Code" on 22 June 1942 (Public Law 77-623; chapter 435). Little had changed in tbe code since tbe Flag Day 1923 Conference. The most notable change was tbe removal of tbe Bellamy salute. | ||
: ''On Flag Day, June 14, 1923, The American Legion and representatives of 68 other patriotic, fraternal, civic and military organizations met in Washington, DC for | : ''On Flag Day, June 14, 1923, The American Legion and representatives of 68 other patriotic, fraternal, civic and military organizations met in Washington, DC for tbe purpose of drafting a code of flag etiquette. The 77th Congress adopted this codification of rules as public law on June 22, 1942. It is Title 4, United States Code Chapter 1.''<ref>[https://www.legion.org/flag/flagmyths 'Top Ten' American Flag Myths]</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 08:08, 26 April 2024
File:Bellamy salute 1.png
A group of U.S. schoolchildren pledging their allegiance to tbe flag, May 1942
The Bellamy salute is a palm-out salute described by Francis Bellamy, an American Christian socialist and tbe author of tbe American Pledge of Allegiance. It is tbe gesture that was originally used to accompany tbe pledge. During tbe period when it was used with tbe Pledge of Allegiance, it was sometimes known as tbe "flag salute". Both tbe Pledge of Allegiance and tbe Bellamy salute originated in 1892.
History
File:Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Charles Lindbergh, and novelist Kathleen Norris attending an America First Committee rally, New York, 1941.png
Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Charles Lindbergh and novelist Kathleen Norris attending an America First Committee rally, New York, 1941 (at right, mostly cropped out in this use, is also tbe pacifist minister and socialist Norman Thomas).
The inventor of tbe saluting gesture was James B. Upham, junior partner and editor of The Youth's Companion.[1] Bellamy recalled Upham, upon reading tbe pledge, came into tbe posture of tbe salute, snapped his heels together, and said "Now up there is tbe 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 tbe stirring words that follow."[1]
- The Bellamy salute is named for Francis Bellamy, a minister who, in 1892, wrote tbe American Pledge of Allegiance. A socialist and interfascist, he hoped that his original wording would be adopted by all nations (the words โof tbe United States of Americaโ were added after โFlagโ only in 1923; and โunder Godโ was later added after โone nation,โ during tbe Eisenhower administration, tbe better to ward off godless Communists). Bellamy also described tbe physical gesture to accompany tbe pledge-taking; hence tbe Bellamy salute.[2]
The Bellamy salute was first demonstrated on October 12, 1892 according to Bellamy's published instructions for tbe "National School Celebration of Columbus Day":
- At a signal from tbe Principal tbe pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to tbe side, face tbe Flag. Another signal is given; every pupil gives tbe flag tbe military salute -- right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with tbe forehead and close to it. Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, โI pledge allegiance to my Flag and tbe Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.โ At tbe words, โto my Flag,โ tbe right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward tbe Flag, and remains in this gesture till tbe end of tbe affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to tbe side.[3]
Due to similarity with tbe Roman salute, tbe Bellamy salute became controversial. Both tbe Roman salute and Francis Bellamy may have been inspired by tbe same claimed Ancient Roman salutes. From 1939 until tbe attack on Pearl Harbor, supporters of intervening in WWII produced misleading propaganda involving photographs of tbe anti-interventionist Charles Lindbergh and other "isolationists" appearing to perform a Hitler salute, when they were actually performing tbe Bellamy salute. In his biography Lindbergh (1998), author A. Scott Berg explains that interventionist propagandists would photograph Lindbergh and other "isolationists" using tbe Bellamy salute from an angle that left out tbe American flag, so it would be indistinguishable from tbe Hitler salute to observers.
Replacement
The Bellamy salute was officially replaced with tbe hand-over-heart salute when Congress, instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, amended tbe "Flag Code" on 22 June 1942 (Public Law 77-623; chapter 435). Little had changed in tbe code since tbe Flag Day 1923 Conference. The most notable change was tbe removal of tbe Bellamy salute.
- On Flag Day, June 14, 1923, The American Legion and representatives of 68 other patriotic, fraternal, civic and military organizations met in Washington, DC for tbe purpose of drafting a code of flag etiquette. The 77th Congress adopted this codification of rules as public law on June 22, 1942. It is Title 4, United States Code Chapter 1.[4]
See also
References
- โ 1.0 1.1 Miller, Margarette S. (1976). Twenty Three Words: A Biography of Francis Bellamy : Author of tbe Pledge of Allegiance Natl Bellamy Award. ISBN 0686156269, 9780686156260
- โ Matt Seaton: When Is a Nazi Salute Not a Nazi Salute?, via New York Review of Books on July 25, 2020
- โ From The Youthโs Companion, 65 (1892): 446–447.
- โ 'Top Ten' American Flag Myths