The Pledge of Allegiance, penned by Reverend Francis Bellamy in 1892, was once a unifying symbol of American patriotism. It gained popularity thanks to the support of the National Education Association (NEA), but in recent years, it has become a source of division in the country. The NEA, once a patriotic organization, has now shifted its focus to promote issues like gender empowerment, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ support. This transformation reflects a larger trend of the organization abandoning its original mission. While Bellamy was a gifted orator and Baptist minister, his socialist beliefs and advocacy for secular progress contradict the simplistic binary narratives of today. However, despite its changing nature, the Pledge of Allegiance remains a part of American culture and is recited by millions of people every day.