170413 - Flag Ceremony - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag (half-staff alerts)

Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony
for Thursday, April 13, 2017

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

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

Flag and Monument honoring Alexander Hamilton - the rival who helped Thomas Jefferson become our 3rd President.

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:
The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff, except in Wisconsin.
WI's half-staff is in honor of State Trooper Anthony Borostowski - who died in the line of duty on April 11th.
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 to honor?

US Army Green Beret Staff Sergeant Mark De Alencar - KIA on April 8th

Unfortunately, yes, we have a new fallen combatant from the GWOT (Global War on Terrorism). U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, Staff Sergeant Mark De Alencar, from Joppatowne, Maryland, was killed in action, while fighting in Afghanistan, on Saturday, April 8th. His unit, from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, was fighting ISIS terrorists in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan when gunfire killed De Alencar.
[To find out more about US Army Green Beret SSG (Staff Sergeant) Mark De Alencar, click here.]

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

Thomas Jefferson - official President's portrait

Today, Thomas Jefferson's birthdate in 1743, we celebrate his life and impact on our American History.
Thomas Jefferson was one of our greatest leaders. As a Founding Father, he was the principal author of our Declaration of Independence and served as our 3rd U.S. President.
Two of the biggest accomplishments of his time as President were:
1) Doubling the size of the United States of America by completing the Louisiana Purchase from the French - giving us the fertile Heartland we needed to be a self-sufficient country.
And, 2) Appointing Lewis and Clark to lead the Corps of Discovery trip to the Pacific from 1803 to 1806 - providing a roadmap for America's western expansion.

Louisiana Purchase land

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