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 and state half-staff alerts and an informative / inspiring daily 'Pre-Pledge of Allegiance Tribute' for students / citizens to perform and all Americans to witness.
[ Header / top pic by SSweeney of U.S. Flag flying at Flag Steward HQ in July 2019 ]
delivers the most accurate, honorable, and complete national and state half-staff alerts and an informative / inspiring daily 'Pre-Pledge of Allegiance Tribute' for students / citizens to perform and all Americans to witness.
[ Header / top pic by SSweeney of U.S. Flag flying at Flag Steward HQ in July 2019 ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts for Wednesday, July 20th.
There is a half-staff order for all flags across Massachusetts, throughout Arkansas, and across New Mexico.
There is a half-staff order for all flags across Massachusetts, throughout Arkansas, and across New Mexico.
Keep SCROLLING down to review the Half-Staff alerts details and honoree pics, any UPCOMING national and state Half-Staff alerts, and info on our member-only half-staff and back-to-full-staff text alerts for your state and USA.
[ Students perform and/or listen to their teacher read the daily 'Pre-Pledge Tribute' text in RED ]
Today's Pre-Pledge Tribute recalls ...
[ public domain image of Apollo 11 astronauts (L to R) Neil Armstrong (mission commander), Michael Collins (command module pilot), and Buzz Aldrin (lunar module pilot) ]
On this date, July 20th of 1969, the famous statement, "The Eagle has landed!" was made by Astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was referring to the safe touchdown of the Apollo 11 lunar module on the moon. The other, more famous quote, given by Armstrong, is played in the grainy video below.
It's still hard to believe that 53 years later, America is still the one and only country to have landed on the moon.
On this date, July 20th of 1969, the famous statement, "The Eagle has landed!" was made by Astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was referring to the safe touchdown of the Apollo 11 lunar module on the moon. The other, more famous quote, given by Armstrong, is played in the grainy video below.
It's still hard to believe that 53 years later, America is still the one and only country to have landed on the moon.
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 July 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 MASSACHUSETTS (MA: July 20) Massachusetts' Governor ordeed all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset, on Wed., July 20, the date of his interment, in honor of United States Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew P. Partyka, of Hingham, MA, who passed away on July 3, 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across ARKANSAS (AR: July 19 - 22): Arkansas' Governor, via tweet at about 12p CST on Tue., July 19, ordered all (US & State) Flags at government / public facilities across the state, to half-staff until sunset on Fri., July 22, in honor of Jonesboro Police Department Officer Vincent Parks, who died during a training exercise on July 17, 2022.. CLICK HERE to read the Governor's Flag order.
[ Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Arkansas Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
[ Note: To receive a Back-to-Full-Staff text alert for this order and all future Arkansas Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
All Flags across NEW MEXICO (NM: July 18 - 22): New Mexico's Governor ordered, at approximately 11am MST on Mon., July 18, all (US & State) Flags at all government / public facilities across the state to half-staff, immediately until sunset on Fri., July 22, in mourning for four Bernalillo County first responders killed in a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crash on Saturday (pictured left to right - top to bottom): Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, and Deputy Michael Levinson, all of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and Bernalillo County Fire Department Rescue Specialist Matthew King were killed in a helicopter crash in the line of duty on July 16 while assisting with firefighting efforts in San Miguel County. 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]
Upcoming Half-Staffs
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:
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.