McLean County Times

There's a day in between Christmas and New Years that's set aside to honor the promise of loyalty to the nation's flag, and state Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) paid tribute to the day in her own way.

Rezin took to social media where she shared a graphic that noted Congress formally recognized the Pledge of Allegiance on Dec. 28, 1850.

"Happy Pledge of Allegiance Day," Rezin wrote in a Dec. 28 Facebook post. 

Pledge of Allegiance Day is marked on Dec. 28 because it was on that day in 1945 that Congress formally recognized the day that honored the pledge, according to National Day Calendar. The calendar also noted that Francis Bellamy was credited with writing The Pledge of Allegiance, but it was first published anonymously in 1892 in the magazine called The Youth's Companion.

The United States Flag Code, which outlines proper treatment and respect of the flag, including not allowing the flag to touch the ground, burning as a preferred dignified way of destroying the flag once it becomes unfit for display, and forbidding the flag to be used as a covering for a ceiling. According to the Legal Information Institute, the flag also cannot be displayed union side down, used to receive or hold anything, or carried flat. The code also prohibits using the flag as apparel, bedding, or drapery and forbids a portion of the flag to be used in costumes or athletic uniforms, but patches are allowed on military personnel and emergency responders. 

According to Wide Open Country, some states have their own state pledges of allegiance, but Illinois does not.