David Whitton, Age 9, of Tucson, Ariz., for his question:

Who Wrote The Pledge Of Allegiance Of The Flag?

His name was Francis Bellamy. We do not know much about him, but the few things we do know make us like him. He was fond of children. He looked for the best ways for people to get along together and govern themselves. He loved America, which was his country and which is now our country.

Once upon a time, in America, there was a magazine for young people called the Youth's Companion. One day, its young readers found some important words in this magazine. Someone, it seems, knew that those children loved their country. He knew that they were sensible young peop1e. When they loved someone or something, they wanted to say so. So, he gave them a chance to put their love for America into words.

The words were Simple enough for anyone to understand. They were beautiful words, because they spoke of something good and true. They were solemn words, because anyone who said them made a promise to be loyal and true to America. Later, some of the words were changed. They became the fledge Of Allegiance to the Flag Which We recite in school.

The writer was Francis Bellamy. He worked on the staff of the Youth's Companion which published his words on Sept. 8, 1882. That year there was a National School Celebration, and Francis Bellamy's words were recited by the public school children. Your great grandparents may have been among the first school children to recite the p1edge of Allegiance in the year 1892.

We do not know much about Francis Bellamy. But he liked children, and he trusted the best in them. He admired his cousin, Edward Bellamy, who wrote books about a society of people who had learned to solve their problems and get along peacefully

Together The Bellamy family, it seems, trusted the best in grown ups as well as the best in children.

As time went on, it became the custom for school children all over the land to recite the pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Later, congress passed a special bill, and the famous Piedge of Allegiance to the Flag became part of America's laws.

The original words of Francis Bellamy began with, "I pledge allegiance to my flag." In 1924, the National Flag Conference changed this to, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America." The words "under God " were added when President Eisenhower signed the bill which made this noble pledge of loyalty a law on June 14, 1954.