170723Sun- BoH Flag-Raising

[Today's flag ceremony script is below. We recommend that you read aloud all the ceremony text, in the best performance voice you have, 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 Sunday, July 23, 2017
[3-in-3: delivering 3 patriotic reminders in 3 minutes]

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

"Magnificent 7" - Team USA Women's Gymnastics gold medal team at 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The first U.S. women's team in history to win the Olympic summer games gymnastics team competition. [Team USA - YouTube video image]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

Across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff today.

[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 'Let Freedom Ring' in the background to enhance today's ceremony experience]

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

[see past Sunday image credit]

Spend time today thanking and praising all the good things God, your family, and your country (the good ole USA) provide to you.
Remember and reflect upon your relatives and friends who have served and protected our country and communities - giving us an opportunity to live up to our forefathers belief in 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'.

TODAY'S FALLEN MARINE ALERT:

Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden, a KC-130 flight engineer [image courtesy of Snowden family]

Today, we individually remember and honor, the 10th of 16 service members killed in the KC-130 crash, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden of Dallas, Texas. He was aboard serving as the flight engineer with the 9-man KC-130 crew when the plane crashed last Monday, July 10th. He was a combat veteran that fought in Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan during his 14-year career.

Per the Dallas News, Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden once belted out every word of Radney Foster’s “Angel Flight” while clutching his camo Marine hat over his heart as tears streamed down his face. That was Josh — a Dallas boy who exhaled patriotism with every breath and had country music in his blood.
His lifelong friend and fellow Marine, Ross Hardage of Dallas, said the image he has of Snowden, standing in the middle of New York City in a cowboy hat and boots with a Texas-sized belt buckle and leather beer holster on his hip, sums him up.
“You didn’t know him and not know his love for the Cowboys, Texas, the Marines, family and God,” his sister said.

We thank and honor Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden for defending our freedoms at home and abroad.
[Go here to learn more about the life of Joshua Snowden]

There's probably many of you who, like me, who have never heard Radney Foster's "Angel Flight", so I've embedded its YouTube video here.

via GIPHY

In closing, take a moment to reflect upon Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells - like that patriot and Marine Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden.

[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