​Reminders from Our Flag
for Friday, November 16, 2018
... a #NeverForgottenFriday ...

​​​On this #FlagDayFriday, we recommend that your school / classroom perform this week's
Pre-Pledge Tribute

Today's Flag Status  ​
Across the USA, Our American Flag flies at full staff, except in IA and RI.

In IOWA, the US and State Flags are at half-staff today to honor a WWII fallen sailor finally returning home for burial.Navy Carpenter’s Mate 3rd Class William L. Kvidera, of Traer, Iowa was killed in action on December 7, 1941, when the USS Oklahoma was attacked by Japanese aircraft at Pearl Harbor. Kvidera’s remains were identified this past July and recently returned to his family for burial in Traer with full military honors.
In RHODE ISLAND, the Governor ordered the US and State Flag to half-staff to pay tribute to former RI First Lady Sue Carcieri.  Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of her interment (burial - TBD).

​​This Week's #NeverForgottenFriday Honorees

There were no US service member casualties in the Global War on Terror this past week. 
Unfortunately, there was an Air Force pilot, Captain John Graziano, who was killed in a T-38 training jet crash in Laughlin, NV, on Wednesday. 
CLICK HERE to learn more about Captain Graziano's plane crash

And, amazingly this week, the DPAA (Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency) reported recovery of the remains of an Army Air Corps hero, 1st Lieutenant John Crouchley, who went down, on June 28, 1944, with his shot-up B-24 bomber in Bulgaria after making sure all 9 of his crew members safely parachuted out.  Thanks to the guidance of a local, 95 year-old villager who helped bury 1st Lt Crouchley 73 years ago, the DPAA team knew exactly where to start digging in the mountainside.  Crouchley's wedding ring with his wife's initials engraved in it was one of the physical identifiers of his remains.  He was posthumously bestowed with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Air Medal for his heroic actions to save his crew.

GO HERE to read about the 69-day recovery mission of 1st Lt Crouchley's remains

​Today's Historical Moment to Remember
... Our 46th State ... ​

[ courtesy of Wikipedia =public domain image ]

On this date (OTD), November 16th in 1907, Oklahoma was admitted as our 46th state in the Union.  The state was formed by merging the "Indian Territory" with the "Oklahoma Territory."  Oklahoma is now prosperous from its oil drilling.  But, back in the 1800s, Oklahoma was prosperous land that fed Native Americans and "Sooners" with lots of bison meat - as buffalo roamed all over the state's prairie land.
"Sooners" was the term used to describe settlers who entered the "Unassigned Lands" (in what is now Oklahoma) before President Harrison officially started the "Land Rush of 1889."  Those "Sooners" were not allowed to "claim" (own) the land they were on before the land rush started.

Today's Slice of Americana  - Sports
... Two Boston Red Sox idols are honored with MVP awards ...

On this date in 1946 and 1967, Boston Red Sox legends, Ted Williams ('46) and Carl Yastrzemski ('67), are chosen as AL MVP (American League Most Valuable Player). 

---

​​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 !!!

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