Scroll down to see how the Flag Steward nonprofit, which Informed, Inspired, & Served more than 1.4 million unique users in 2021,
delivers an informative / inspiring daily 'Pre-Pledge Tribute' and the most accurate, honorable, and complete national, state, and local half-staff alerts for students to perform and all Americans to witness.
[ Top pic = SSweeney pic of small/hand flag placed in Red Rocks City Park, Morrison, CO in Jan. 2021 ]
delivers an informative / inspiring daily 'Pre-Pledge Tribute' and the most accurate, honorable, and complete national, state, and local half-staff alerts for students to perform and all Americans to witness.
[ Top pic = SSweeney pic of small/hand flag placed in Red Rocks City Park, Morrison, CO in Jan. 2021 ]
[ Students perform and/or listen to their teacher read the daily 'Pre-Pledge Tribute' text in RED ]
Welcome to today's Pre-Pledge Tribute and Half-Staff Alerts
for Thursday, Jan. 20th
for Thursday, Jan. 20th
[ public domain image ]
On this date, Jan. 20th of 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was sworn-in as President for the fourth time. This record number of re-elections made the U.S. Congress begin working on the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution which limits US Presidents to serving for only two consecutive terms. Just a few months of after his 4th inauguration, FDR died on April 12, 1945.
On this date, Jan. 20th of 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was sworn-in as President for the fourth time. This record number of re-elections made the U.S. Congress begin working on the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution which limits US Presidents to serving for only two consecutive terms. Just a few months of after his 4th inauguration, FDR died on April 12, 1945.
Before reciting the Pledge, we must observe where the U.S. Flag is at half-staff today, Thursday, Jan. 20th.
The U.S. Flag is at half-staff across Illinois for a fallen officer, throughout McPherson County, Kansas, for a fallen firefighter, and in parts of Missouri - including all firehouses for a fallen firefighter.
The U.S. Flag is at half-staff across Illinois for a fallen officer, throughout McPherson County, Kansas, for a fallen firefighter, and in parts of Missouri - including all firehouses for a fallen firefighter.
Keep SCROLLING down to review the Half-Staff alerts details and honoree pics, as well as any UPCOMING national and state Half-Staff alerts.
National and State-Targeted Half-Staff & Back-to-Full-Staff TEXT ALERTS
- a subscriber-only service from the Flag Steward nonprofit
- a subscriber-only service from the Flag Steward nonprofit
GO / CLICK HERE
to get a one-time, LIFETIME subscription for NATIONAL and STATE-TARGETED Half-Staff & Back-to-Full-Staff TEXT ALERTS (just $5 tax-deductible donation).
to get a one-time, LIFETIME subscription for NATIONAL and STATE-TARGETED Half-Staff & Back-to-Full-Staff TEXT ALERTS (just $5 tax-deductible donation).
Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for January 20
*** Reminder: The Flag orders, by government officials (President, Governor, etc.) are for flags at government facilities within that official's jurisdiction. Citizens are encouraged, but not required to follow the orders.
*** Reminder: The Flag orders, by government officials (President, Governor, etc.) are for flags at government facilities within that official's jurisdiction. Citizens are encouraged, but not required to follow the orders.
All Flags across ILLINOIS (IL: Jan. 20 - 22): Illinois' Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise on Thu., Jan. 20, to sunset on Sat., Jan 22, in honor and remembrance of a Fallen Officer, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigator, Deidre Silas, a Child Protection Specialist who was attacked and killed in the line of duty. CLICK HERE to read about the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Illinois Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Illinois Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across McPherson County, KANSAS (KS: Jan. 20): Kansas' Governor ordered all (U.S. & State) Flags at government/public facilities in McPherson County to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Thu., Jan. 20, the date of his interment, in honor of McPherson Emergency Medical Technician, Randall Willems, who died from COVID-19-related medical complications. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Kansas Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Kansas Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags at fire stations across the state, the Fire Fighters Memorial, and all government/public facilities in St. Louis, MISSOURI (MO: Jan. 20): Missouri's Governor ordered all (U.S. & State) Flags at fire stations across the state, the Fire Fighters Memorial in KIngdom City, and at all government/public facilities in the City of St. Louis to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Thu., Jan. 20, the date of his interment, in honor of St. Louis Fire Department Firefighter Benjamin James Polson, who died in the line of duty while fighting a house fire on Jan. 13, 2022. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Missouri Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Missouri Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
Upcoming Half-Staffs
All Flags across ILLINOIS (IL: Jan. 24): Illinois' Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, on Mon., Jan. 24, the date of his interment, in honor and remembrance of Will County Deputy Sheriff Michael John Queeney, who died from COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Illinois Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Illinois Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
State of Flag of Maryland across MARYLAND (MD: TBD): Concurrent with the half-staff order ongoing for BPD's Fallen Officer Holley, Maryland's Governor ordered the State Flag of MD at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff on the date of his interment (TBD), in honor of former State Senator Clyde Bernard Fowler, who passed away on Sunday, December 12, 2021. Former State Senator Fowler represented Legislative District 29. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Maryland Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future Maryland Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
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Then, check out Flag Steward's home decor pillows and much more.
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Half-Staff Flag Etiquette (Procedures):
Flag-raising at sunrise = hoist the Flags to full staff, then lower slowly, respectfully to half-staff
Flag-lowering at sunset = hoist Flags up from half-staff back to full-staff, then lower slowly, respectfully all the way down for removal
Flag-raising at sunrise = hoist the Flags to full staff, then lower slowly, respectfully to half-staff
Flag-lowering at sunset = hoist Flags up from half-staff back to full-staff, then lower slowly, respectfully all the way down for removal
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- relaying the MOST ACCURATE and COMPLETE DAILY HALF-STAFF alerts, historical reminders, inspirational quotes & images, and iHonor American Flag fallen Patriot tributes
GO HERE to get Flag Steward App
Have a better Flag Steward experience by Installing the Flag Steward App
- relaying the MOST ACCURATE and COMPLETE DAILY HALF-STAFF alerts, historical reminders, inspirational quotes & images, and iHonor American Flag fallen Patriot tributes
GO HERE to get Flag Steward App
CLICK HERE to review the completed / archived half-staff alerts for 2020
US Flag Retirement & Disposal / Recycling Program (Short Survey):
Flag Steward is planning to solve another common US Flag owner question and problem.
How to properly retire and dispose of / recycle a US Flag?
Please, GO CLICK HERE to take a quick, 5 short questions survey to help Flag Steward decide if there's enough interest to enable this new Flag care program.
[ Note: Picture by S. Sweeney of horribly neglected US Flag found in front of a house in Greeley, CO in 2017. Flag Steward pulled over, took down the Flag and replaced it with a new one - no questions asked. ]
Flag Steward is planning to solve another common US Flag owner question and problem.
How to properly retire and dispose of / recycle a US Flag?
Please, GO CLICK HERE to take a quick, 5 short questions survey to help Flag Steward decide if there's enough interest to enable this new Flag care program.
[ Note: Picture by S. Sweeney of horribly neglected US Flag found in front of a house in Greeley, CO in 2017. Flag Steward pulled over, took down the Flag and replaced it with a new one - no questions asked. ]
Don't be bashful. Showcase your pride as a Caretaker of Our Flag, a Flag Steward.
GO / CLICK HERE to check out the first set of Flag Steward tees - available via 'Flag Steward Goods' (store) powered by Shopify
GO / CLICK HERE to check out the first set of Flag Steward tees - available via 'Flag Steward Goods' (store) powered by Shopify
Stars & Stripes Flag Etiquette:
The U.S. Flag Code:
provides Our Flag's Rules and Regulations (CLICK HERE for full details)
[HIGHLIGHTS OF: The U.S. Flag Code stating how citizens should conduct themselves during this ceremony is below.]
Title 36, Chapter 10 PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS
National anthem; Star-Spangled Banner, conduct during playing:
During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
Note: A new law was passed on October 30, 2008 that authorizes veterans and active-duty military not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem. This publication is currently being updated to reflect the new law.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; manner of delivery:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, "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.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.