Welcome to Flag Steward's
Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag
for Friday, January 8, 2021​​​​
[ Pic of Jan. 2021 sunset of Poppy's Memorial Flagpole at Flag Steward HQ ] 

3 Ways to Experience today's Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag:
1) Scroll down this page to read notes and review images at your own pace
2) Listen to the BASC podcast as you scroll down this page 
or, 3) Watch and listen to the screen capture video of this page

[ Note: Flag Steward's 'Be a Stud Citizen' podcasts are available on nearly all podcast platforms for you to listen and enjoy however you prefer. ]

[ Note: If you can't access or play videos from YouTube in your school, then GO / CLICK HERE to watch today's stories from Our Flag on Loom. ]

Where is Our Flag, the U.S. Flag, at half-staff today?

[ CLICK HERE to see Half-Staff alert details, including pics, of Honorees ]

Today's Historical Moment from Our Flag
... is about the "Annual Message to Congress" ... 

The "Annual Message to Congress," better known today as the "State of the Union Address," was first delivered on this date, January 8th, in 1790 by President George Washington (the first of Washington's 7 page speech is pictured above).  At that time, Congress met in New York City, so Washington gave his speech, the shortest "Annual Message" ever, highlighting the importance of compromise and cooperation to ensure our young nation succeeded.  Interestingly, Article II of the US Constitution requires the President to "give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union," but it does not spell out how this must be done.  So, for many years, until the 28th President, Woodrow Wilson, Presidents wrote a letter to Congress about the condition (state) of the United States.  Today, the "State of the Union" is delivered in person to a joint session of Congress and the entire country via live television and outlines an economic report, accomplishments from the past year, goals for the next year, new legislation (law) recommendations and more.

[ painting of Washington's first "Annual Message" - via MountVernon.org / public domain image ]

​​Today's Inspirational Quote from Our Flag
​
“To be prepared for war
is one of the most effectual means
of preserving peace.”

- stated by President Washington during the first "Annual Message to Congress"

Today's Fun from Our Flag

​Although, not an American treasure, Leonardo da Vinci's, Mona Lisa painting (see public domain image above), which was first shown publicly on this date, January 8th, in 1963, has been made fun of by Americans more than other work of art.

And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance

Students across America, at school or at home, inspired by President Washington reinforcing that cooperation and compromise is needed for Our Nation to succeed, which still applies to today's toxic political environment, please unite and recite the Pledge.

​​Thanks for participating in today's U.S. Flag tribute.
This is Sean Sweeney, a fellow Flag Steward, signing-off:

Go out and 'be a stud citizen' today
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust

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

FINALLY! - TEXT (National & State) Half-Staff Alerts:

CLICK HERE to sign-up for National and State-targeted Half-Staff Flag Alert TEXT Notifications
(Many prefer this text alert service because within the Flag Steward app we CANNOT effectively deliver state-targeted notifications)

​This is a FREE service powered by Flag Steward's nonprofit

​Flag Steward (formerly known as Beacon of Honor and originally incorporated as GivingVu.org, Inc. in 2013) is a nonpartisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  Tax ID# 46-2457373