What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Why this is the answer

Both official answers come from the opening words of the pledge itself, which promise allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. You are pledging loyalty to the flag and, through it, to the country it represents, so “the flag” and “the United States” are equally correct. The pledge has a history of its own. Francis Bellamy wrote it, and it first appeared in 1892 in The Youth’s Companion, a magazine, for children to recite on the anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in America. Congress did not officially recognize it until June 22, 1942. The words have changed twice since 1892: “I pledge allegiance to my flag” became “to the Flag of the United States of America,” and Congress added “under God” on June 14, 1954. There is a customary way to say it. People stand, turn toward the flag and place the right hand over the heart. You will likely do this yourself soon, because everyone attending a naturalization ceremony is asked to recite the pledge. The flag earns that loyalty as a symbol. The study guide describes it as a symbol of freedom, like the Statue of Liberty, with 13 stripes for the original colonies and 50 stars, one for each state. This is also one of the 20 questions marked with an asterisk for the 65/20 special consideration, the shorter list for applicants who are 65 or older and have been permanent residents for 20 years or more. A tempting wrong answer is a phrase from later in the pledge, such as “liberty and justice” or “God.” Those words are in the text, but they describe the nation the flag stands for. The object of the allegiance is named right at the start, so if you can recite the first line, you already have the answer.