Religious Figure. He is generally credited with having the phrase "Under God" added to the "Pledge of Allegiance" in the United States. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1911, in the 1950s he was serving as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, located in Washington D.C., and heard the "Pledge of Allegiance" for the first time when it was recited by his 7-year-old son. He then gave a sermon in 1952 saying the pledge should acknowledge God. He then redelivered the sermon again on February 7, 1954, after learning that President Dwight D. Eisenhower would be at the church. The next day, a bill was introduced to add the phrase "under God" to the pledge. President Eisenhower signed the bill into law on Flag Day later that year. Reverend Docherty passed away in his home in central Pennsylvania at age 97 in November 2008.
Religious Figure. He is generally credited with having the phrase "Under God" added to the "Pledge of Allegiance" in the United States. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1911, in the 1950s he was serving as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, located in Washington D.C., and heard the "Pledge of Allegiance" for the first time when it was recited by his 7-year-old son. He then gave a sermon in 1952 saying the pledge should acknowledge God. He then redelivered the sermon again on February 7, 1954, after learning that President Dwight D. Eisenhower would be at the church. The next day, a bill was introduced to add the phrase "under God" to the pledge. President Eisenhower signed the bill into law on Flag Day later that year. Reverend Docherty passed away in his home in central Pennsylvania at age 97 in November 2008.
Bio by: Sgt. Rock
Family Members
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