What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 and has been revised several times, most notably in 1954 when Congress added the phrase "under God." Reciting the pledge is a common practice in schools and government ceremonies, though Supreme Court rulings have established that no one can be compelled to say it. The pledge's language—"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands"—makes clear that loyalty is to both the flag as a symbol and the nation itself.