FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within
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Welcome to Flag Steward's 'Be a Stud Citizen'
Half-Staff Alerts & Daily Reminders

(relaying Civics info & US History memos)
for Friday, May 7, 2021​
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[ Most Fridays I fly my beloved USMC Flag with the US Flag- May 2017 view west from Flag Steward HQ = S. Sweeney pic ] 
Where is Our Flag, the U.S. Flag, at half-staff today?
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[ CLICK HERE to see Half-Staff alert details, including pics of honorees ]
[ 3 Ways for You & Students to Experience today's 'Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag': ]
[ 1) KEEP SCROLLING down this page and read it to yourself or perform it aloud for your school / classroom. If reading the page to a classroom, skip any text in [ brackets ].
2) LISTEN to the <5 minutes PODCAST as you or your classroom follow along viewing the page on a device or classroom projection
or, 3) WATCH the <5 minutes VIDEO of today's Reminders from Our Flag, by yourself or with your classrooom on a projector/flatscreen ]
[ Note: Flag Steward's 'Be a Stud Citizen' podcasts are available on nearly all podcast platforms. ]
[ 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. ]
Today's Historical Moment from Our Flag
... the sinking that started to rise America's determination to enter World War I ...
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[ public domain image = painting of RMS Lusitania by Norman Wilkinson ] 

On this date, May 7th, in 1915, about 11 miles off the southern coast of Ireland, a German U-boat torpedoed and sunk one of the world's greatest and fastest steam-powered cruise liners.  Unfortunately, the torpedo strike was a good one and caused an interior explosion within the hull of the Lusitania causing her to sink within approximately 15 minutes - leading to the loss of 1,198 lives out of 1,962 aboard, including 128 U.S. citizens.  
Americans were furious at what was considered a violation of international shipping - not letting innocent passengers escape the boat before being sunk.  The ship was carrying war munitions and became the reason for the Germans not paying reparations (damages) for the U.S. citizens killed.  
The U.S. Congress and President Wilson did not declare war on Germany, but this start to build significant support for such actions.  And, about a year-and-a-half later, when the Germans declared "unrestricted submarine warfare," the U.S. entered as an Allied Force, joining the United Kingdom and others, to fight Germany.

​​Today's Insightful Quote from Our Flag
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"I've been asked a lot lately what message is there in the Lusitania for the modern day.
To be honest, not much.
Except that maybe hubris and overconfidence are always dangerous things."

- Erik Larson, American author
[ 1907 pic of Lusitania in NYC Harbor after record-time crossing of the Atlantic = public domain image ]
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, informed about the start of America's path into the Great War / WWI, please unite and recite the Pledge.
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​​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'
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust
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​In God We Trust
(Official motto of the United States of America)
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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
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​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
  • Half-Staff Alerts
  • About Us
    • Contact Us >
      • Privacy Policy
    • Supporting Veterans >
      • College Tips for Veterans
  • .