https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bellamy
Francis Julius Bellamy (May 18, 1855 – August 28, 1931) was an American Christian socialist Baptist minister and author.[1] He is best known for writing the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892.
Phillipsburg High School, New Jersey. IIRC. ~2003
Not long after 9.11 so things were a bit tense I guess.
Yeah especially so close to NYC. That makes sense, unfortunately.