Reminders from Our Flag
for Thursday, July 5, 2018
[ GO HERE to perform this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute at any time you like. But, ... we recommend you designate each Friday as #FlagDayFriday
- a day to take 2 minutes to perform a pre-Pledge Tribute, which will make Pledge of Allegiance more engaging and meaningful. ]
for Thursday, July 5, 2018
[ GO HERE to perform this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute at any time you like. But, ... we recommend you designate each Friday as #FlagDayFriday
- a day to take 2 minutes to perform a pre-Pledge Tribute, which will make Pledge of Allegiance more engaging and meaningful. ]
Today's Star-Spangled Inspiration
... from Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State
"The U.S. has since the end of World War II had an answer - we stand for free peoples and free markets, we are willing to support and defend them - we will sustain a balance of power that favors freedom."
Today's Flag Status
The Flag of the United States of America flies at full staff across our great states, except in New York.
[Note: Pennsylvania has a special State Flag half-staff status]
The Flag of the United States of America flies at full staff across our great states, except in New York.
[Note: Pennsylvania has a special State Flag half-staff status]
In New York, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed that flags (US & State Flags) be flown at half-staff in honor of New York State Police Trooper Nicholas F. Clark, who died in the line of duty today in Steuben County. They will be lowered until Trooper Clark's interment.
[Note: In Pennsylvania, their Commonwealth / State Flag is half-staff on the Capitol Complex and throughout the City of Philadelphia to honor Philadelphia Fire Department member Lt. Benny Hutchins - until his interment on July 11.
[Note: In Pennsylvania, their Commonwealth / State Flag is half-staff on the Capitol Complex and throughout the City of Philadelphia to honor Philadelphia Fire Department member Lt. Benny Hutchins - until his interment on July 11.
Today's Historical Reminder
... the gift of U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization ...
... the gift of U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization ...
[ Judge Ellis presides over Naturalization Ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery = pic by Tracy Woodward / Washington Post ... educational use ]
The 4th of July is a common date to hold Naturalization (U.S. Citizenship) Ceremonies. One such ceremony, that stands out, was held in 2008 by U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III - who moved the Naturalization (Citizenship) Ceremony he was presiding over from his District Court in Alexandria to the Arlington National Cemetery. During the ceremony, for 70 new citizens from 30 different countries, he fittingly stated,
"It is a wonderful day for each of you, because today you will join the land of the free and the home of the brave." "I did it [held this Naturalization Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery] to honor our country's warriors and to give the new citizens a sense for what makes this country great."
Read more about this special ceremony by CLICKING HERE.
[ Judge Ellis congratulates a US Navy sailor from Nigeria who just became a US citizen. There was also a US Army soldier from Jamaica sworn in. ]
In the United States of America, there are two paths to citizenship - birthright and naturalization. They are specified in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
When becoming "Naturalized," one has to recite the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America. I was invited to and witnessed this special event for one of the Marines in my command back in 1993. It was an incredibly inspiring event - as she recited the Naturalization Oath like this:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
So, on this day after Independence Day, let's be thankful for the gift of U.S. citizenship and all the freedoms that come with it.
TODAY'S SLICE OF AMERICANA:
[ NY Yankee - Lou Gehrig = public domain image ]
On July 4, 1939 was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day. During this ceremony, Hall of Fame Yankee first baseman, Lou Gehrig, also known as "The Iron Horse," gave his famous speech in which he stated, “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
Thanks for reviewing today's 'Reminders for Our Flag'
- a service from the Flag Steward program
Now go 'Be a good citizen' today by ...
... picking up and disposing of 2 pieces of trash that will help
keep America beautiful !!!
- a service from the Flag Steward 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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