I first struggled with "under God" in my fourth-grade class in Westport ... to insert the phrase into the Pledge of Allegiance, partly as a cold war rejoinder to "godless" communism.

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic ... In 1954, as the cold war intensified, Congress added the words “under God” to distinguish the United States from “godless Communism.” ...

This was a result of some degree of cleverness on the Romans' part. They attempted to end allegiance to the old Celtic gods by linking them with Roman one. The Roman god Mars, for example ...

As red-blooded Americans, we all know the Pledge of Allegiance. Most schools require ... Most people don't realize the phrase "under God" wasn't included in Flag Day in 1954 - 60 years ago today.