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 flagpole in March 2020 ]
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 flagpole in March 2020 ]
[ Students perform and/or listen to their teacher read the daily 'Pre-Pledge Tribute' text in RED ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts and Pre-Pledge of Allegiance Tribute
for Wednesday, Mar. 16th
for Wednesday, Mar. 16th
[ public domain image of President James Madison ]
Happy Birthday, James Madison - "Father of the Constitution"
On this date, Mar. 16, of 1751, James Madison was born in the Virginia Colony. As one of our Founding Fathers, he went on to become our 4th U.S. President, serving from 1809 to 1817. He is nicknamed the "Father of the Constitution" because of his strong work to write and promote the establishment of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights - the first 10 Amendments to America's supreme law of the land.
Happy Birthday, James Madison - "Father of the Constitution"
On this date, Mar. 16, of 1751, James Madison was born in the Virginia Colony. As one of our Founding Fathers, he went on to become our 4th U.S. President, serving from 1809 to 1817. He is nicknamed the "Father of the Constitution" because of his strong work to write and promote the establishment of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights - the first 10 Amendments to America's supreme law of the land.
Also, born on this date, Mar. 16 of 1946, was Flag Steward's main inspiration, my dad, Ed Sweeney Jr.. He served in the US Army for 20 years (1967 - 87), including a tour as a scout helicopter pilot (shot down 3 times) in Vietnam from 1969 - 70. His love of family, country, and God inspired me to install a flagpole dedicated to him - known as Poppy's Memorial Flagpole, Flag Steward HQ's flagpole. After a few years of folks asking me about the flagpole and info as to why it was placed at half-staff on occasion, I began to teach students lessons (stories of triumph and tragedy) woven into Our Flag - then called Beacon of Honor. Six years later the project has grown into a nonprofit serving more than 1.4M Americans in 2021 with flag status alerts and daily historical reminders.
Before reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, we must observe where the U.S. Flag is at half-staff today, Wednesday, Mar. 16th.
There is a new half-staff order in Georgia. The U.S. Flag is at half-staff at the State Capitol of Georgia for a former Mayor.
There is a new half-staff order in Georgia. The U.S. Flag is at half-staff at the State Capitol of Georgia for a former Mayor.
Keep SCROLLING down to review the Half-Staff alerts details and honoree pics, as well as any UPCOMING national and state Half-Staff alerts.
And, now it's time to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Students across America, inspired by the tireless work done by the Father of the Constitution - James Madison, please, join each other in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thanks for being part of today's Pre-Pledge of Allegiance Tribute.
Now, go out and be a 'Stud Citizen' - a more informed, inspired, respectful student-citizen.
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 March 16
*** 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 at the State Capitol of GEORGIA (GA: Mar. 16): Georgia's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags atop the GA State Capitol and its grounds, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, on Wed., Mar. 16, the date of his interment, in honor of and as a mark of respect for the memory of former Atlanta Mayor Samuel Alan Massell, Jr., who served from 1970 - 74 as Atlanta's 53rd Mayor. 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 ]
[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 ]
Upcoming Half-Staffs
All Flags across CONNECTICUT (CT: Mar. 18): Connecticut's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Fri., Mar. 18, the date of his interment (burial), in honor of Rocky Hill Fire Captain James Lamarre, who died in the line of duty as a result of work-related cancer. 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across WISCONSIN (WI: Mar. 18 or 19???): Wisconsin's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on the date of her funeral / interment, in honor of former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Margaret Farrow, Wisconsin's first female Lt. Governor. 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 ]
[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 ]
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
Stars & Stripes Flag Etiquette:
[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.
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
