170712Wed- BoH Flag-Raising

[Today's flag ceremony script is below. We recommend that you read aloud, in the best performance voice you have, all the ceremony text with 2 exceptions: 1) do not read caption text below pictures, and 2) do not read any text with [brackets] around it.]

Good morning, USA!!!
Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor
Flag-Raising Ceremony
for Wednesday, July 12, 2017
[3-in-3: delivering 3 patriotic reminders in 3 minutes]

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

Civil War Medal of Honor memorial in TN [public domain image]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff in all states except 2 - New York and North Carolina. The half-mast flags in NC commemorate the 16 service members (15 Marines and 1 sailor) killed in the military plane crash on Monday.
To learn about the state half-staff honorees for this week, join us Saturday for pictures and details about each honoree.

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

Now, please, stand and place your hand upon your heart and make this flag-raising ceremony more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and 'the Republic for which it stands'.

[Note: Play 'Reveille' while raising / posting the flag of the United States of America]

[Note: You're welcome to play 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' in the background to enhance today's ceremony experience]

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... Honor - Valor - Courage ...

Medal of Honor for U.S. Army, U.S. Navy / Marine Corps / Coast Guard, and U.S. Air Force from L to R [public domain image]

On this date, June 12, in 1862, President Abe Lincoln signed into law the "Medal of Honor" award - presented in the name of Congress to soldiers and sailors that "distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action". To date more than 3,400 combatants have received this medal for their heroic actions.

[Visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website to learn more]

TODAY'S FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS ALERT:

Headstone for Medal of Honor recipient. The upside-down star symbolizes how the star orients within the Medal of Honor [public domain picture]

Unfortunately on Monday, a US Marine Corps KC-130 crashed in Mississippi while transporting 15 Marines and 1 sailor on a cross-country flight. The names of those we lost have not been released yet. When the names are posted, we will take time to commemorate every one of them.
In the meantime, ...
... on this day we honor the creation of the Medal of Honor, we must take a moment to reflect upon and pay tribute to the more than 1000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines whose courageous actions earned them our highest military decoration posthumously - meaning the honoree was killed as a result of his/her valorous actions.

via GIPHY

In closing, take a moment to reflect upon Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells - especially of those who died defending our Constitution

[Optional: Say the 'Pledge of Allegiance' or sing the 'National Anthem' while closing the ceremony and placing your hand upon your heart.]

[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]

Thanks for attending today's BoH ceremony.
Now, go be a good citizen!!!

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END OF CEREMONY
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... 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