The Knights of Columbus is celebrating this year the 60th anniversary of the resolution adding the phrase ‘under God’ to the Pledge of Allegiance. In 1951 the knights added the phrase to the pledge at their meetings and then decided to take the idea to the president and Congress.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it official on Flag Day, June 14, 1953. The president wrote a letter to the Grand Knight at that time expressing his gratitude. “We are particularly thankful to you for your part in the movement to have the words ‘under God’ added to our Pledge of Allegiance. These words will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded,” reads the letter.