170505 - Flag Ceremony - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag (half-staff alerts)

Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony
for Friday, May 5, 2017

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

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

Sun sets behind the Continental Divide in Colorado [Image: SSweeney]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:
The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff, except in Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois.
Click here to verify Our Flag's (the U.S. Flag's) current status across the USA

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

Alan Shepard in sub-orbital space aboard the Freedom 7. [public domain photo]

On this date, May 5th of 1961, the Freedom 7 spacecraft was piloted by astronaut Alan Shepard into space.
With this flight, Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

TODAY'S COMBATANT KILLED IN ACTION (KIA) HONOREE:

Today, we honor ...
U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Lee Weston, a 25-year old infantry officer from Bluffton, Georgia, who was killed by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast while on patrol on April 24th in Mosul, Iraq. Colonel Pat Work, 1st Lt. Lee Weston's Commanding Officer, stated that Lee was "an extraordinary young man and officer. He was exactly the type of leader that our paratroopers deserve."
[Learn more about 1st Lt. Lee Weston here]

Only those Americans who are willing to die for their country are fit to live.
-Douglas MacArthur

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, like that of 1st Lieutenant Lee Weston,
and all those who died defending our Constitution.

[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