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Half-Staff Alerts
&
​Pre-Pledge Tribute

 Scroll down to see how the Flag Steward nonprofit, which Informed, Inspired, & Served more than 1.4 million unique users in 2021, 
delivers the most accurate, honorable, and complete national, state, and local half-staff alerts and 
an informative / inspiring daily 'Pre-Pledge Tribute' for students to perform and all Americans to witness. 
[ Top pic = SSweeney pic of Flag Steward HQ flags flying 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 Wednesday, Feb. 2nd.
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[ Grand Central Terminal - main concourse = creative commons license via Wikipedia ]
On this date, Feb. 2nd, in 1913, New York City's most treasured train terminal, called Grand Central, opened.  Amazingly, this terminal with 44 platforms, more than any other railroad station in the world, serves 67 million travellers per year, primarily to commute between home and work.  As one of the world's ten most visited tourist attractions in the world, Grand Central Terminal is fittingly a National Historic Landmark - now in its 109th year of operation.
 Before reciting the Pledge, we must observe where the U.S. Flag is at half-staff today, Wednesday, Feb. 2nd.
The U.S. Flag is at half-staff atop the Capitol building of California, throughout Virginia for two fallen officers, across Wisconsin for a firefighter, throughout North Dakota for their Attorney General, across New York for two fallen officers, and throughout Maryland for 3 fallen firefigthers.
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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
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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).
And, now it's time to do the Pledge of Allegiance.

Students across America, please, join each other in reciting the Pledge.
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​Thanks for being part of today's Pre-Pledge Tribute.  
Now, go out and be a 'Stud Citizen' - a more informed, inspired, respectful student-citizen.

​​Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for February 2
​
*** 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.
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All Flags atop State Capitol of CALIFORNIA (CA: Feb. 2): CA Governor ordered all Flags atop State Capitol, in a memo posted to Governor's website on Tue., Feb. 1, to half-staff, without a specific date/time set by the Governor, so assumedly Capitol staff enabling on Wed., Feb. 2, in honor of Stockton Fire Captain Vidal “Max” Fortuna, who was shot and killed in the line of duty, while responding to a fire.  CLICK HERE to read the Gov.'s Flag order.
[Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order at sunset and all future California Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]

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All Flags across VIRGINIA (VA: Feb. 2): Virginia's Governor ordered All Flags at government /public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Wed., Feb. 2, in respect and memory of the two officers shot and killed in the February 1st tragedy at Bridgewater College.  GO 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 US President & Virginia Governor Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]

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All Flags across WISCONSIN (WI: Feb. 2): Wisconsin's Governor ordered ALL (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Wed., Feb. 2, the date of his interment (burial), in honor of firefighter Robert “Bob” A. Stevens of the Fremont-Wolf River Fire Department, who passed away on Jan. 27, 2022, at the age of 66, due to complications from contracting COVID-19 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 Wisconsin Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]

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All (US & State) Flags across NEW YORK (NY: Jan. 28 - Feb.2)  New York's Governor ordered all Flags atop city government / public facilities to half-staff, from sunrise on Fri., Jan. 28, the date of the funeral for NYPD Officer Rivera, until sunset on Wed., Feb. 2, the date of funeral for NYPD Officer Mora, as a mark of respect for NYPD Officer's Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora (right side pic), who were shot and killed in the line of duty.  CLICK HERE to see the Governor's Flag order.
[ NOTE: Officer Rivera's and Mora's funerals are both are at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC ]

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All Flags across MARYLAND (MD: Jan. 24 - Feb. 2): Maryland's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, at approximately 5:30pmEST today, Mon., Jan. 24, to half-staff, immediately, until sunset on the last day of interment or memorial services (Feb. 2), in honor of Lieutenant Paul Butrim, Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and EMT/Firefighter Kenny Lacayo of the Baltimore City Fire Department, each of whom died in the line of duty on January 24, 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 Maryland Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]

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All (US & State) Flags across NORTH DAKOTA (ND: Jan. 28 - Feb. 3)  North Dakota's Governor, at approximately 7:30pm CST on Fri. night, Jan. 28, ordered all Flags atop city government / public facilities across the state to half-staff, immediately on Fri., Jan. 28, until sunset on Thu., Feb. 3, the date of his interment, in honor of longtime North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and his longtime service to the state.  CLICK HERE to see the Governor's Flag order.
[Note: To receive future Half-Staff and Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for Flag orders in North Dakota and across USA = GO CLICK HERE ]

​Upcoming Half-Staffs
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All Flags across GEORGIA (GA: Feb. 5): Georgia's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, on Sat., Feb. 5, the date of his interment, in honor of and as a mark of respect for the memory of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jonathan Gierke, who was tragically killed in a military vehicle accident along with another Marine, PFC Riffle of WV, on Jan. 19.  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 Georgia Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]


GO CLICK HERE to see the completed National and State Half-Staff Orders for 2022
Looking for All-American holiday gifts? 
Then, check out Flag Steward's home decor pillows and much more.
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GO / CLICK HERE to visit the 'Flag Steward Goods' (store) powered by Shopify
HELP us improve FLAG STEWARD and its services. 
Please, take 2 minutes to complete this USER SURVEY, and get a 15% off coupon toward any item in our Flag Steward Goods (store).

GO / CLICK HERE for the USER SURVEY
​​​​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
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Viewing Flag Steward on PC or mobile browser?
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

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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. ]​
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
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​Stars & Stripes Flag Etiquette:
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[Cover of U.S. Government Publication]

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.
  • Half-Staff Alerts
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