All across the land today, the Stars and Stripes will be flown in much greater numbers than any other day of the year except, perhaps, Memorial Day. And as part of Fourth of July ceremonies in school stadiums and other public venues, millions more Americans than usual will say the Pledge of Allegiance to those flags before the music, speeches and fireworks.

The pledge has quite a curious 122-year history, having been written by a utopian socialist and tweaked a few times, adding "under God" in 1954 and remaining there despite the complaints of civil libertarians and atheists. Mostly it gets said in school settings. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that students cannot be forced to say the pledge or punished for not doing so, but peer pressure in the service of public expressions of alleged patriotism can be a powerful force. Even when you're a kid who wonders what nation is being discussed when "liberty and justice for all" is mentioned.

What most people invoking those familiar words may not be aware of is that the pledge to Old Glory has at least 12 counterparts in pledges (or salutes) to state flags. I'll dare guess that not one in 500 residents knows the words to their state pledge or even whether their state has one. Texans know. State law requires the recitation of both the national pledge and the state pledge every morning in public schools (with the proviso that individuals may opt out). You can bet, however, that if you're a teacher and choose not to recite, you'll be looked at askance come performance review time.

Most of these state pledges are fluffy say-nothings, perfect for mooing in unison at 8 AM. For example:

Rhode Island (adopted in 1910): "I pledge allegiance to our State Flag, and to the Republic of which Rhode Island forms a part; one Union inseparable, with honor and reverence for both State and Nation."

But then there's Alabama, which adopted its pledge in 2001: "Flag of Alabama I salute thee. To thee I pledge my allegiance, my service, and my life."

Read more about state flag pledges below the fold.