Pre-Pledge Tribute for Week of Sep. 14-20, 2020

[ Note: We recommend 3 student-speakers lead and read aloud the 3 parts of the pre-Pledge ceremony. And, assign 1 student to handle the ceremony tech - showing with a laptop or mobile device the ceremony on a screen. Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ONLY READ THE TEXT IN BLUE. ]

[ SPEAKER 1 - read blue text only]

Gooooooooood day, students across metro Denver and America learning at home or school.

Welcome to Flag Steward's
Pre-Pledge Tribute
for the week of September 14 - 20

We reviewed two historical events in last week's ceremony, the birth of the Pledge of Allegiance and the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and highlighted their message of unity, freedom, and justice. Similarly, this week, we will showcase the connection between two other noteworthy events that occurred this week in American history - the birth of the Star-Spangled Banner, on September 14 in 1814 and the U.S. Constitution on September 17 in 1787.

[ Speaker 1 - read blue text only ]

But, first, I need to share with you ...
Where is Our Flag lowered to half-staff today, Friday, September 18th?

[ Speaker 1 - read blue text only]
Since this ceremony is pre-recorded, please, take a moment to CLICK & GO HERE to see if your state and school has any Half-Staff orders to follow today.
And, now, it's time to learn about this week's lesson from Our Flag.

[ Speaker 2 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S STORY FROM OUR FLAG:
... connects the Defence of Fort McHenry to our Constitution ...

[ Top portion / The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution - public domain image ]

When a government official or military member is sworn-in, she / he promises to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." And, that's exactly what Francis Scott Key saw, on September 13 and 14 of 1814, American troops defending our Nation and citizens' rights during a 26-hour bombardment by the British Navy. He was so inspired to see "that our flag was still there" after this important battle that he wrote a poem called the "Defence of Fort McHenry." A few days later the poem was turned into a song and retitled, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which gained immediate popularity and eventually became our National Anthem.

So, when you hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" (National Anthem) being sung, think about our troops, back then at Fort McHenry, and now, at home and abroad, who are supporting and defending our rights and freedoms outlined in the Constitution.

And, it's up to us citizens to work together and ensure the Constitution provides "liberty and justice for all."

, ???
Like we stated about the Pledge last week, the National Anthem is not a statement of who we are - it's a statement / inspiration for the steps the moves we take to move toward fulfilling the rights and laws protected / enabled by the U.S. Constitution ???

Let's listen closely to the National Anthem now sung by ... and use it as a roadmap for the ups and downs and ahead for us to fulfill all the rights that are provided and justice that is protected by the U.S. Constitution.

INSERT ??? singing National Anthem ???

[ painting of the Battle of Fort McHenry - public domain image ]

[ Speaker 2 - read blue text only]
But, now it's time to tell you about the military and first responders who died in the line of duty recently. These patriots died while they were supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States.

[ Speaker 3 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

Unfortunately, we recently had another "Global War on Terror" casualty - the seven thousand and fifty-third according to the Department of Defense. Senior Airman JasonPhan, of California, died, on September 12th, in a vehicle accident while on patrol in Kuwait.

We honor and thank him for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.

[ Speaker 3 - read blue text only]
And, back on the homefront ...

... ???

We honor and thank these first responders for their fearless efforts to serve and protect our communities.

[ Back to Speaker 1 - read blue text only]

And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across metro Denver and America, at school or at home, empowered with inspiring stories from Our Flag, like the birth of our Star-Spangled Banner and the Constitution, you can now recite the Pledge more meaningfully. ;)

Please, unite and say together:

"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."

Thanks for being part of this week's Pledge of Allegiance Tribute.

This is [insert Speaker's name] signing off and asking you to ...
... go out and Be a STUD Citizen, that means be an awesome, citizen.
Keep America beautiful.
And remember, "In God We Trust."

[ In God We Trust is the official motto of the United States of America ]