Reminders from Our Flag
for Monday, August 27, 2018
... a Medal of Honor Monday ...
[ GO HERE to perform this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute (PPT) - ideally done on #FlagDayFriday to make Pledge of Allegiance more engaging and meaningful. ]
Today's Star-Spangled Inspiration
... is a quote from today's Medal of Honor honoree, 2nd Lt. Stephen Gregg, who recalled what happened right after receiving the Medal of Honor in 1944 while still fighting in France ...
"I put it (the Medal of Honor I just received) in my back pocket and then loaded up to go do more fighting."
for Monday, August 27, 2018
... a Medal of Honor Monday ...
[ GO HERE to perform this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute (PPT) - ideally done on #FlagDayFriday to make Pledge of Allegiance more engaging and meaningful. ]
Today's Star-Spangled Inspiration
... is a quote from today's Medal of Honor honoree, 2nd Lt. Stephen Gregg, who recalled what happened right after receiving the Medal of Honor in 1944 while still fighting in France ...
"I put it (the Medal of Honor I just received) in my back pocket and then loaded up to go do more fighting."
Today's Flag Status
Confusion reigns across the states on Our Flag's status ...
because there has been no Presidential Proclamation yet to honor Senator John McCain III.
Most Governors have not made a flag proclamation because they are waiting for the Presidential Proclamation that is overdue. But, there are many other Governors who have called for their state to fly the US and their State Flag at half-staff until Senator McCain's date of interment (burial), while others have ordered just their State Flag to half-mast, and a few are following the exact protocol outlined in the US Flag Code - to fly the US Flag across the USA at half-staff "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress."
Confusion reigns across the states on Our Flag's status ...
because there has been no Presidential Proclamation yet to honor Senator John McCain III.
Most Governors have not made a flag proclamation because they are waiting for the Presidential Proclamation that is overdue. But, there are many other Governors who have called for their state to fly the US and their State Flag at half-staff until Senator McCain's date of interment (burial), while others have ordered just their State Flag to half-mast, and a few are following the exact protocol outlined in the US Flag Code - to fly the US Flag across the USA at half-staff "on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress."
[ Poppy's Memorial Flagpole at Flag Steward CP at half-staff honoring Navy Veteran and Congressman, John McCain III = public domain pics of McCain / SSweeney pic of flag setting ]
Flag Steward hopes that there is not a political or personal motive behind the Presidential Proclamation not being made.
Regardless, you can never be wrong when doing a just, honorable thing for a person who spent so many years serving his country, 58 years as a Naval Officer and Congressman. So, we recommend and proclaim Our Flag at HALF-STAFF ACROSS THE USA for today - especially since webcams show Our Flag at half-staff on our nation's Capitol building.
Today's Medal of Honor Moment
< We are the Home of the Free because of the Brave >
< We are the Home of the Free because of the Brave >
[ 2nd Lt. Stephen Gregg being awarded the Medal of Honor= U.S. Army - public domain image ]
U.S. Army Second Lieutenant Stephen Gregg of Bayonne, NJ.
While in France on August 27, 1944, then Tech Sergeant Gregg, was in close combat with a German platoon. He provided cover fire for a combat medic trying to aid 7 wounded Americans. The Germans kept firing at the medic, so Gregg grabbed a machine gun and began firing it from his hip with the medic behind him. The medic was able to evacuate the 7 wounded soldiers while Gregg ran out of ammunition and was briefly surrounded by Germans. Fortunately, Gregg was able to escape.
The next morning, the Germans launched a counter-assault supported by tanks. From a forward observer position directing mortar fire, Gregg targeted more than 600 mortar rounds on German tanks and troops. When communication with his mortar team was knocked out in the afternoon, he moved back to fix it. Along the way, he was told that the Germans had captured his mortar team and were now lobbing rounds at the Americans. So, Gregg, under cover fire from two teammates, crawled up threw a grenade into the mortar position, then charged in killing 3 Germans and capturing 2. He then put his mortar section back into action firing upon the Germans.
For risking his life above and beyond the call of duty, Stephen Gregg, a Tech Sergeant promoted to Second Lieutenant, received the Medal of Honor and lived to tell about it.
[Go here to read 2nd Lt. Gregg's full Medal of Honor citation.]
Slice of Americana:
World War I poster [public domain image]
100 years ago the Allied Forces, including America, were entering the last few months of the end of World War I. Back then, military recruiting posters played into the fear of and anger towards the Germans like this one above - asking Americans to enlist (join one of the military services) and go defeat the Germans ("Brutes").
Thanks for reviewing today's 'Reminders for Our Flag'
- a service from the Flag Steward program
Now go 'Be a stud 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 stud 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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