180220T- Reminders from Our Flag

Strengthening Our Future by Honoring Our Past

Reminders from Our Flag
for Tuesday, February 20, 2018

[Note: Play this patriotic music in the background to enhance the experience]

[We recommend you designate each Friday as #FlagDayFriday - a day to take a moment and be thankful for all America offers by performing a pre-Pledge Ceremony. But, if #FlagDayFriday doesn't fit within your morning schedule, you're welcome to GO HERE to perform this week's Pre-Pledge Ceremony on any day of the week.]

Today's Flag Status:
Across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff, except in MI.

In Michigan, Our Flag is at half-staff in honor of Detroit Police Officer Darren Weathers, who was killed in the line of duty Tuesday, Feb. 13. Weathers served in the U.S. Army and the Michigan National Guard before joining the Detroit Police Department two years ago.
[CLICK for more half-staff honoree & states flag info (courtesy of FlagNotify.com)]

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

On Tuesdays, we try for a 2-fer that makes you Think & Laugh.
So now, think...
... Who Am I?

[ =public domain image ]

-Our U.S. Army infantry unit was first created back in the late 1860s to serve in the American West - fighting Native Indians to protect America's pioneers

-Our unit had fought admirably in France during World War I and was activated again in 1942 as an all-black U.S. Army division - our enlisted men and most of its junior officers were black, its higher officers were white.

[ African American officers of the ___ ____ Division review maps and battle orders with their commanding officer (white) prior to crossing Italy's Arno River and eventually breaking through the German's Gothic Line of defense. = public domain image via U.S. Army ]

- I was the only African American division to see infantry combat action during World War II in Europe

-Lt. Col. Markus H. Ray, commander of the division’s 600th Field Artillery Battalion (which had all black officers and men) wrote on May 14, 1945:
‘I believe that the young Negro officer represents the best we have to offer and under proper, sympathetic and capable leadership would have developed and performed equally with any other racial group….They were Americans before all else.’

[ African American soldiers of the ___ ______ Division's mortar company battle German forces near Massa, Italy. = public domain image from U.S. Army ]

-We went into combat action in Italy during the summer of 1944, proudly wearing our circular shoulder patch that featured a ____ ______ on an olive drab background (giving our unit its famous nickname, ____ ______)

Yes, that's right, we are the ...
92nd Infantry Division's "Buffalo Soldiers"
And, during World War II, our U.S. Army unit, of 12,846 combatants, broke through the German's brutally defended Gothic Line in Italy. We reached our objective, at the base of the Italian Alps, and helped capture nearly 24,000 prisoners and received more than 12,000 decorations and citations for their gallantry in combat.

We made you think, so now you get to
Laugh:
Here's a joke pulled from a skit by one of today's funniest (and shortest ;) African American comedians, Kevin Hart

[ Image from Pinterest = copyright undetermined / use for education ]

Thanks for reviewing today's 'Reminders for Our Flag'
- a service from the Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag program

Now go 'Be a good citizen' today by ...
... picking up and disposing of 2 pieces of trash that will help
keep America beautiful !!!

In God We Trust
(Official motto of the United States of America)
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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