WASHINGTON -- A senator and a representative solemnly read a new pledge of allegiance today in a dramatic Flag Day ceremony on the capitol steps.
As a new flag donated by the American Legion was raised high over the capitol dome, Sen. Homer Ferguson (R-Mich) and Rep. Louis C. Rabaut (D-Mich) intoned the words of the allegiance approved by congress last week.
In the revised pledge the words "under God" were inserted so that the pledge of allegiance concludes "... one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Senate and House leaders, American Legion officials and government officials were on hand for the ceremony marking not only Flag Day but the Legion's campaign of "New Glory for Old Glory."
The joint reading of the pledge by Ferguson and Rabault formally ended a dispute between the two over authorship of the congressional measure.
Ferguson and Rabaut sponsored identical changes in the wording of the flag pledge. Rabaut blocked house approval of the senate measure last Monday on grounds his bill had been introduced a year ago and should be the one enacted.
The senate bowed to Rabaut's pride of authorship the next day and approved and sent the change to the White House.
Ferguson said he normally would have insisted that the house follow customary procedure and act on the already-passed senate bill but due to the "urgency" of the situation he agreed to accept the house measure.
Ferguson wished to have the change approved by the President in time for Flag Day.
