Legislatures around the country, including the House and Senate, recite the Pledge of Allegiance at each meeting. But the New York City Council has never followed the practice – until now. Last week, for the first time in the council’s history, council members began their meeting by pledging allegiance to America.

Credit for the new policy goes to Council Members Simcha Felder, Democrat of Brooklyn, and Dennis Gallagher, Republican of Queens, who have been pressing the council to recite the pledge for the past seven months. Their effort began March 24, when the United States Supreme Court first heard arguments about the constitutionality of including the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Felder asked that the council recite the pledge that day as a show of support. A number of council members objected, and Mr. Felder’s request was denied. Determined to make his point, Mr. Felder rose at the council meeting and uttered the pledge. “Out of order,” called the public “advocate,” Betsy Gotbaum, who presides over council meetings, as Mr. Felder spoke. Council Member Robert Jackson, Democrat of Manhattan, demanded that Mr. Felder be silenced by having his microphone cut off “and, if necessary, removed from the chambers.”

Messrs. Felder and Gallagher continued to urge the council leadership to make the pledge part of the council’s standard practice. They eventually won over the speaker of the council, Gifford Miller. At Mr. Miller’s request, Ms. Gotbaum began last Wednesday’s council session by asking everyone to rise and recite the pledge. This time, there were no objections, only applause. In an era where New York City has become a symbol of America to the world, it’s reassuring that the city still considers itself part of one nation, indivisible.