170403 Flag Ceremony

Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony
for Monday, April 3, 2017

READ THE CEREMONY SCRIPT IN BIG BOLD BELOW
[Note: You're welcome to play 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' in the background to enhance the ceremony experience]

Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag ... to Inform and Inspire Citizens

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:
The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full-staff, except in Michigan. Half-staff in Michigan honors former state Representative, and the state's first blind lawmaker, Robert Mahoney who died at age 95.

Click here to verify Our Flag's (the U.S. Flag's) current status across the USA

FALLEN COMBATANTS:
Do we have any fallen combatants / fallen soldiers to honor?

Thankfully, there are no new fallen combatants to report.
The last combatant killed in action was U.S. Navy SEAL Ryan Owens on January 28, 2017.
[To find out more about Chief Petty Officer Ryan Owens, click here.]

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

American Entrepreneurship and Innovation ...
The Pony Express operated a mail delivery service between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California from April 3, 1860 to October of 1861. The Pony Express, officially named the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company was founded by William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell. It only took about 10 days to deliver messages and became the West's most direct means of east–west communication before the telegraph was commonplace. [Text edits and links from Wikipedia]

Pony Express Advertisement

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and make this Pledge of Allegiance (or National Anthem or flag-raising) more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells.

[No copyright: Image found on ThingLink.com]

Lyrics by Francis Scott Key [Image: No copyright. Found on http://www.wadeburleson.org]

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END OF CEREMONY
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Now, go be a good citizen!!!

... more music selections to use with your flag ceremony ...

[Cover of U.S. Government Publication]

The U.S. Flag Code:
provides Our Flag's Rules and Regulations

[HIGHLIGHTS OF: The U.S. Flag Code stating how citizens should conduct themselves during this ceremony is below.]

Title 36, Chapter 10 PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing:
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
Note: A new law was passed on October 30, 2008 that authorizes veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem. This publication is currently being updated to reflect the new law.

Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "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.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.
The U.S. Flag Code:Provides Our Flag's Rules and Regulations
[HIGHLIGHTS OF: The U.S. Flag Code stating how citizens should conduct themselves during this ceremony is below.]

Title 36, Chapter 10 PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing:
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
Note: A new law was passed on October 30, 2008 that authorizes veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem. This publication is currently being updated to reflect the new law.

Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "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.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.

Content Sources & Credits:
Sources: Click here to see our Sources for content research
Credits: Unless otherwise noted here, photos displayed each day are public domain images, pictures by Sean Sweeney, or used by permission.

To learn more about the Beacon of Honor nonprofit project, go to http://BeaconOfHonor.org
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