170706Thu- Flag Ceremony

Good morning, USA!!!
Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony
for Thursday, July 6, 2017

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

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

[public domain image]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff, except in 2 states - South Carolina and Alaska. In SC it flies at half-staff for former SC Speaker of the Housse Ramon Schwartz Jr.. In Alaska, the half-staff honors U.S. Army PFC Kirkpatrick.
Every Saturday, we review and provide details on this past week's half-staff honorees in every state.

Click here to learn more about today's half-staff honorees and
verify the latest flag status for every state (courtesy of FlagNotify.com)

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
< ... and justice for all.>

Chief Justice Warren Burger swears in Justice Sandra Day O'Connor [public domain]

On this date, July 7th, in 1981 President Ronald Reagan nominated the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor to become a Supreme Court Justice.
Her nomination as the first female to serve on the Supreme Court was approved by Congress, so she was sworn in on September 25, 1981. She went on to serve as a member of SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) for nearly 25 years.

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

U.S. Army Private First Class Hansen Kirkpatrick of Wasilla, Alaska [U.S. Army picture]

Sadly, on July 3rd, while serving with the 1st Armored Division in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Private First Class Hansen Kirkpatrick was mortally wounded by mortar fire. Two other soldiers were wounded, but will survive. Infantry solider Kirkpatrick is from Wasilla, Alaska and just joined the Army in June of 2016.
We thank Hansen Kirkpatrick for carrying out his duties to uphold the freedom of Americans and those in Afghanistan seeking liberty as well.
[To find out more about PFC Kirkpatrick, click here.]

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 PFC Kirkpatrick and all those who died defending our Constitution.

[No copyright: Image found on ThingLink.com]

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

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!!!

... And, here are 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.

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