FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag (half-staff alerts)
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Half-Staff Alerts & 
Lessons from Our Flag

  [ SSweeney pic, taken in April 2020, of US Flag & US Marine Corps flag flying at Flag Steward HQ ]
Welcome to today's Half-Staff Alerts and Lessons from Our Flag for Monday, April 17th.
There are Governor-directed half-staff orders across Oregon, Kentucky, and Missouri.
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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.
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).
Today's Lesson from Our Flag recalls ...
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[ SSweeney pic of family visiting Ellis Island in 2011 ]
On this date, April 17th of 1907, the Ellis Island immigration center processed 11,747 potential citizens.  This marked the busiest day ever for Ellis Island and was part of its busiest year (1907) ever.
Half-Staff Alerts & Honorees for April 17
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*** 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 across OREGON (OR: Apr. 17): Oregon's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all government / public facilities across Oregon, to half-staff, until sunset on Mon., Apr. 17, to honor Nyssa Police Department Reserve Officer Joseph Johnson, who was killed in the line of duty. Officer Johnson was also an Oregon Department of Corrections employee, assigned to Snake River Correctional Institution.  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 Oregon Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]

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All Flags across KENTUCKY (KY: Apr. 17): Kentucky's Governor ordered all (US & State) Flags at all state government / public facilities to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Mon., Apr. 17, on the date of their funerals, in honor of two Fort Campbell stationed US Army helicopter pilots - U.S. Army, Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery A. Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary G. Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri, who were killed in a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crash.  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 Kentucky Governor (and US President) Flag orders = GO CLICK HERE ]

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All (U.S. & State) Flags across MISSOURI (MO: Apr. 17): Missouri's Governor ordered all flags at government / public state facilities in Gasconade County, Missouri to half-staff, from sunrise to sunset on Mon., Apr. 17. the date of his funeral, in honor of US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary G. Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri, who was killed in a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crash.   CLICK HERE to see 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 ]

​Upcoming Half-Staffs
GO CLICK HERE to see the completed National and State Half-Staff Orders in 2023
​​​​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
​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.
​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
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