7/16-7/22 Pre-Anthem

***Note: Before starting this ceremony, go see Today's Flag Status (by clicking this link). Then, review if your state is flying Our Flag at half-staff today. If your state is at half-staff today, memorize the name of the honoree and his/her job/position, so you can quickly and easily say it within today's pre-Anthem ceremony script below.

Good afternoon/evening, USA!!!
Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Pre-Anthem Ceremony
for the week of July 16 to July 22, 2017

READ THE CEREMONY SCRIPT IN BIG BOLD BELOW
[Note: You're welcome to play 'America the Beautiful', performed by the U.S. Army Field Band, in the background to enhance today's ceremony experience]

The 'Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag' ... to Inform and Inspire Citizens

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin saluting Our Flag [public domain image taken by Neil Armstrong]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:
In our state, the Stars and Stripes files at ___(say "full" or "half")___ staff today.

[End it here or read the following sentence if there is a half-staff in your state today]
[Optional: The half-staff in our state is to honor ___(say full name of honoree)___ who served as a ___(say public servant job / position - such as firefighter, state representative, police officer, etc.)___ for our state.

Every Saturday, visit the Beacon of Honor service to see photos and details about the past week's half-staff honorees for each state.

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
<American innovation and global leadership>

Buzz Aldrin with equipment for moon experiment [pic by Neil Armstrong - public domain image]

"The Eagle has landed."
[Statement by Armstrong alerting NASA Mission Control that the "Eagle" lunar module had landed safely on the surface of the moon.]
During this week, on July 20th of 1969, Apollo 11 successfully reached the moon. America had won this phase of the 'Space Race' against the Soviets.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong then became the first man to walk on the moon and famously proclaimed,
[Play the audio file below or read the statement below if the audio doesn't play.]
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Do you recall who were the other astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission?

In addition to Mission Commander Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin was pilot of the lunar module "Eagle", and Michael Collins piloted the Command module "Columbia"

Apollo 11 Astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin

THIS WEEK'S COMBATANT KILLED IN ACTION (KIA) COMMEMORATION:

First Lieutenant David C. Waybur wearing his Medal of Honor [U.S. Army image}

... is dedicated to U.S. Army Reconnaissance Officer, First Lieutenant David Waybur. Lieutenant Waybur showed extraordinary heroism in battle near Sicily on evening of July 17, 1943. He and his recon team, on their way to rescue a Ranger unit deep in enemy territory, encountered an enemy unit that vastly outnumbered and out-gunned them. And, at the most desperate time, with most of his unit hit and himself seriously wounded, Lieutenant Waybur stood directly in the fire of the enemy's leading tank and shot and killed the crewmembers so that the lead tank crashed and caused such destruction and delays that he and his unit could hold-off the enemy until reinforcements arrived.
For risking his life above and beyond the call of duty, he received the Medal of Honor.

Install the 'PlaceApp' and connect to the Beacon of Honor service to read Lt. Waybur's full Medal of Honor citation.
[or go here]

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and make this National Anthem more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells, like that of Lieutenant Waybur,
and all those who died defending our Constitution.

Only those Americans who are willing to die for their country are fit to live.
-Douglas MacArthur

################
END OF CEREMONY
################

Now, go be a good citizen!!!

... And, here are more music selections to use with your flag ceremony ...

[Cover of U.S. Government Publication]

The U.S. Flag Code:
provides Our Flag's Rules and Regulations

[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.

Content Sources & Credits:
Sources: Click here to see our Sources for content research
Credits: Unless otherwise noted here, photos displayed each day are public domain images, pictures by Sean Sweeney, or used by permission.

To learn more about the Beacon of Honor nonprofit project, go to http://BeaconOfHonor.org
SF