170714Fri- 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 Friday, July 14, 2017
[3-in-3: delivering 3 patriotic reminders in 3 minutes]

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

NYC and World Trade Center One in background [public domain image]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

Across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff except in New York.
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]

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

[source unknown: found on Pinterest]

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

Within some patriotic and military social circles, it has become a tradition to wear R.E.D on Fridays. R.E.D. Fridays are a good way to pay tribute to our military personnel on deployments around the globe. So, wear RED on Friday and take a moment to reflect upon our deployed troops keeping harm away from our homeland.

TODAY'S FALLEN SERVICE MEMBER COMMEMORATION:
... the 2nd of 16 we'll be honoring individually ...

Sgt Joe Murray [Facebook picture]

Today, we remember and honor Sgt. Joseph Murray, 26, a special operations Marine based at Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina, who died in Monday's KC-130 crash - leaving behind his wife Gayle and 4 young children. He served two combat tours in Afghanistan. His father had this to said this about Joe, "He was a wonderful young man of God. I said, ‘Joseph, why do you want to be a grunt?’ He said, ‘Because that's the hardest thing there is to do.’ When Joseph decided to do something, he went all in. He didn’t look for the easy way; he looked for the right way. And, he wasn’t a man of God because he went to church. He lived it.””

Gayle and their 4 young kids are now without their 'rock', Sgt Joe Murray [Facebook image]

via GIPHY

In closing, take a moment to reflect upon Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells - especially of Sgt. Joe Murray and his efforts to defend our liberties.

[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