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 & Reminders from Our Flag
(relaying Civics info & US History memos)
for Tuesday, May 18, 2021​
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[ Front porch US Flag, an iHonor, interactive flag relaying the story of a GWOT Fallen Marine via the Flag Steward iHonor site (GO HERE) = 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
... tells us about the U.S. Government's Selective Service System ...
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[ US Selective Service "draftees" table = public domain image from Wikipedia ]
When American males become eligible to vote (turn 18 years old), they must register with the US Selective Service System.  This US Government agency maintains a database of those available to be drafted (unvoluntarily put / conscripted) into the military.  Then, if / when called upon, the Selective Service has plans for two types of drafts: 1) a general draft for all males between 18-25, and 2) a special skills draft of professional licensed workers - especially healthcare providers.  So, how and when did this draft system come to be?
Upon the United States entering World War I, the government was forced to set up a conscription (draft), for the first time since the Civil War, for all men between 21 and 30 to be placed into one of the military services.  This happened because there were not enough volunteers joining the military to go fight the Germans in World War I.  So,, on this date (OTD), May 18, in 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act of 1917.  This law gave President Wilson the ability to draft citizens to fight in World War I.

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[ Here's a World War I draft card.  Interestingly, the bottom left corner (it's too small to read here) is removed for any African-American citizens because back then the military was segregated (blacks served in separate fighting units from others) = public domain image ]
​​Today's Interesting Quotes from Our Flag

"I hated the draft, but at the same time,
​it's something that made every American take war seriously."


-Tim O'Brien, Vietnam Veteran and American author



"During the Vietnam era,
more than 30,000 draft dodgers and deserters sought harbor in cities like Montreal and Toronto,
where public opposition to the war was strong and most residents didn't question their motives."


- Wil S. Hylton, American journalist

[ pic of World War 1 Selective Service registration = public domain image ]
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, more informed about America's Selective Service System, its military draft system, by uniting and reciting 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' today
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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GO HERE to get Flag Steward App

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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
  • .