To stimulate patriotism during the Spanish-American War, President McKinley suggested that a new pledge of allegiance be written and asked patriotic organizations to take charge of it. When the contest was over, the honor of writing the Pledge of Allegiance for the American flag had fallen to Frank E. Bellamy, and it had been adopted as the pledge of allegiance by patriotic societies of America. Lillian A. Hendricks of the State and National Woman's Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic and Irma Hill-Vogel, National President of the National Auxiliary of the U.S. Spanish War Veterans, honored Frank E. Bellamy by passing a resolution thanking him for his contribution and patriotism. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Cherryvale, Kansas.