This question may be out of place but to my understanding the pledge is as follows (note the punctuation):

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

but it is often recited

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The way I see it we are pledging allegiance to both the flag and republic but in the other version there is often a vocal inflection at the "and to the republic for which it stands" part which makes it sound like an introductory phrase that goes nowhere. Maybe it's old english or maybe my interpretation it wrong but can anyone explain the proper message of the US pledge given its punctuation