I learned the pledge of allegiance way before I had understanding of the words "pledge" or "allegiance" or half the words we needed to recite. It has no meaning to a six-year-old, and by the time I was capable of understanding meaning I had so deeply ingrained it as an annoying meaningless ritual that it never crossed my mind.

I'm now in my thirties and reading your comment is the first time it's hit me that the words are intended to have more ideological significance than putting your socks on. When you say it out loud it's obvious, but having to perform or hearing a mention of the pledge has consistently gotten the same amount of attention from me as one pant leg going on before the other one.