Bellamy salute

Students pledging allegiance to the American flag with the Bellamy salute

Bellamy Salute was a gesture of respect and allegiance widely used in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in relation to the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Named after Francis Bellamy, the author of the Pledge of Allegiance, the salute was part of a national campaign to instill feelings of patriotism among American citizens. However, due to its visual similarities to the Nazi salute, which became prominent in Germany during the 1930s under Adolf Hitler's regime, the Bellamy Salute was officially replaced by the hand-over-heart gesture in 1942.

History

The Bellamy Salute originated in 1892 as part of the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World. Francis Bellamy, a Christian socialist and the cousin of utopian novelist Edward Bellamy, created the Pledge of Allegiance to accompany the salute. The gesture involved extending the right arm toward the flag while reciting the pledge. Bellamy envisioned the salute as a way to express loyalty and unity within the United States.

Controversy and Discontinuation

As the 1930s progressed, the Bellamy Salute began to draw uncomfortable comparisons to the salute used by the Nazi Party in Germany. The visual similarity between the two gestures led to increasing unease among the American public and government officials. This concern was particularly acute during the early years of World War II, as the United States faced the Axis powers, which included Nazi Germany.

In response to the controversy, Congress amended the Flag Code on December 22, 1942, with the introduction of the U.S. Flag Code, which prescribed the hand-over-heart gesture as the proper salute during the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. This change was intended to eliminate any association between American patriotic rituals and the fascist salutes of Europe.

Legacy

Today, the Bellamy Salute is largely forgotten or remembered as a curious footnote in American history. Its replacement, the hand-over-heart gesture, is widely recognized as a sign of respect and patriotism in the United States. The story of the Bellamy Salute serves as a reminder of how symbols and gestures can change in meaning over time, influenced by international events and shifts in public sentiment.

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