170409 - Flag Ceremony - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within

Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony
for Sunday, April 9, 2017

READ THE CEREMONY SCRIPT IN BIG BOLD BELOW
[Note: You're welcome to play 'My Country 'Tis of Thee' in the background to enhance the ceremony experience]

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

The original 15-star Star-Spangled Banner from Fort McHenry

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:
The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff, except in Maryland. In MD, the half-staff honors firefighter Charles "Rick" Gentilcore - who died in the line of duty on April 7th.
Click here to verify Our Flag's (the U.S. Flag's) current status across the USA

FALLEN COMBATANTS:
Do we have any new 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:

Union General Grant (left) and Confederate General Lee (right)

Reuniting America
On this date, April 9, of 1865, General Robert E. Lee, leader of the Confederate Army, surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. The terms of surrender that General Grant offered General Lee and his men gave the southerners the dignity needed to go home and effectively restart their lives. They were described by Lee as "doing much toward conciliating our people." This exchange of surrender papers between Grant and Lee effectively ended the Civil War and started the long road back toward uniting the North and the South into one proud country - our United States of America.

General Grant's military career - from West Point to Lee's Surrender at Appomattox

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
SF