[ Note: This script and video is a demonstration of how the Flag Steward nonprofit's Pre-Pledge Tribute can be performed by a couple notable, popular figures to brighten the spirits of our pandemic-frustrated students and motivate them to keep working hard in school and for each other, so we can come out of this as a stronger nation and set of communities. It's a reenactment of how a Pre-Pledge Tribute performance could have occured this past April. ]
[ Note2: Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ONLY READ THE TEXT IN BLUE. ]
[ Note2: Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ONLY READ THE TEXT IN BLUE. ]
[ SPEAKER 1 - read blue text only]
Gooooooooood day, students across America learning at home or school.
This is Sean Sweeney, Founder of the Flag Steward nonprofit project, kicking off this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute along with special guests Mark Wahlberg and David Ortiz - a set of Boston connections to remind us where the Pledge of Allegiance was born. That's right, the Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy and published in 1892 by a Boston magazine called the The Youth's Companion. And, over the years, sadly, the Pledge has become a boring, meaningless task for many students and is recited less and less at schools each year. It is 1 of 3 things that identifies and unites us all as Americans - all 57M+ students and 330M+ citizens regardless of our backgrounds. And, if listened to and thought about, the Pledge, like Our Flag and Star-Spangled Banner, doesn't define us at this moment, it is a reminder of what we need to keep working on to fulfill our promise to each other, our allegiance to become a Republic, a Nation that is truly "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
[ pause ]
Welcome to Flag Steward's
Pre-Pledge Tribute
for the week of April 13 - 19
Gooooooooood day, students across America learning at home or school.
This is Sean Sweeney, Founder of the Flag Steward nonprofit project, kicking off this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute along with special guests Mark Wahlberg and David Ortiz - a set of Boston connections to remind us where the Pledge of Allegiance was born. That's right, the Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy and published in 1892 by a Boston magazine called the The Youth's Companion. And, over the years, sadly, the Pledge has become a boring, meaningless task for many students and is recited less and less at schools each year. It is 1 of 3 things that identifies and unites us all as Americans - all 57M+ students and 330M+ citizens regardless of our backgrounds. And, if listened to and thought about, the Pledge, like Our Flag and Star-Spangled Banner, doesn't define us at this moment, it is a reminder of what we need to keep working on to fulfill our promise to each other, our allegiance to become a Republic, a Nation that is truly "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
[ pause ]
Welcome to Flag Steward's
Pre-Pledge Tribute
for the week of April 13 - 19
[ Speaker 1 - read blue text only]
Where is Our Flag lowered to half-staff today, Friday, April 17th?
Flag Steward says, "this is the most half-staffs it has seen in the 4 years of tracking and publishing half-staff alerts - 13 on one day."
There are two NEW half-staffs for all Flags across Arizona and Illinois.
And, other Half-Staffs continue ...
... across Michigan, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey all Flags are half-staff ...
... In Pennsylvania, all STATE Flags are half-staff ...
... Kentucky has the Flags flying on its State Capitol at half-staff ...
... And, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and in the cities of Columbia, South Carolina, Hendersonville, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. and San Diego, California all Flags are half-staff ...
All of these half-staffs, except in Hendersonville, TN, honor COVID-19 victims. The half-staff in Tennessee pays tribute to a fallen officer.
Where is Our Flag lowered to half-staff today, Friday, April 17th?
Flag Steward says, "this is the most half-staffs it has seen in the 4 years of tracking and publishing half-staff alerts - 13 on one day."
There are two NEW half-staffs for all Flags across Arizona and Illinois.
And, other Half-Staffs continue ...
... across Michigan, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey all Flags are half-staff ...
... In Pennsylvania, all STATE Flags are half-staff ...
... Kentucky has the Flags flying on its State Capitol at half-staff ...
... And, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and in the cities of Columbia, South Carolina, Hendersonville, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. and San Diego, California all Flags are half-staff ...
All of these half-staffs, except in Hendersonville, TN, honor COVID-19 victims. The half-staff in Tennessee pays tribute to a fallen officer.
[ GO HERE to review details about the half-staffs and their honorees - including portraits ]
[ Speaker 1 - read blue text only]
And, now, I'm going to turn it over to Mark Wahlberg, a Bostonian who has starred as a rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. He's been struggling, well more like fighting, to keep things going at his family's restaurant chain, like you and I, during this pandemic.
And, now, I'm going to turn it over to Mark Wahlberg, a Bostonian who has starred as a rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. He's been struggling, well more like fighting, to keep things going at his family's restaurant chain, like you and I, during this pandemic.
[ Speaker 2 - read blue text only]
Hi, I'm Mark Wahlberg. Students, I'm here to share some American inspiration with you. I know it sucks being stuck at home alone or at school with only part of your class, but like many things we've overcome before, you'll come out of this stronger. And, hopefully, this week's Story from Our Flag will encourage you to help each other get through this. It's a story near and dear to my heart - capturing the events leading up to what is now known as Patriots Day here in Boston - a day that marks the start of the Revolutionary War and is celebrated with the running of the Boston Marathon every year. And, it all took on special significance for me when I was chosen to be the lead actor in the movie Patriots Day - a film highlighting the heroes who helped Boston get through the Boston Marathon bombing.
"The Red Coats are coming, the Red Coats are coming!"
Yes, legend has it that those words were shouted during "the midnight ride of Paul Revere," and his forgotten partners - William Dawes and Samuel Prescott
Hi, I'm Mark Wahlberg. Students, I'm here to share some American inspiration with you. I know it sucks being stuck at home alone or at school with only part of your class, but like many things we've overcome before, you'll come out of this stronger. And, hopefully, this week's Story from Our Flag will encourage you to help each other get through this. It's a story near and dear to my heart - capturing the events leading up to what is now known as Patriots Day here in Boston - a day that marks the start of the Revolutionary War and is celebrated with the running of the Boston Marathon every year. And, it all took on special significance for me when I was chosen to be the lead actor in the movie Patriots Day - a film highlighting the heroes who helped Boston get through the Boston Marathon bombing.
"The Red Coats are coming, the Red Coats are coming!"
Yes, legend has it that those words were shouted during "the midnight ride of Paul Revere," and his forgotten partners - William Dawes and Samuel Prescott
[ painting by Charles Bush at NY Public Library ]
That's right students, on April 18th, in 1775, Paul Revere was not the only one to make the famous midnight ride to warn colonials that the Redcoats are coming. William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott helped Paul Revere by riding and delivering the message to other towns near Boston. Their mission was to make sure that Samuel Adams and John Hancock did not get caught by the Redcoats. The term, Redcoats, referred to the fancy red uniforms of the British army. You can see pictures of Revere, Dawes, and Prescott below, as well as, review a map of their brave, night-time rides.
As it turned out, the 'Midnight Ride' prepared colonials for the first battles of the Revolutionary War the next day - the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19th of 1775.
So, will you be a STUD citizen, that means a wicked awesome citizen, when called upon to warn and help your community? Will you have the courage to do what other citizens are afraid to do for others? - like my character, Tommy Saunders, and others in movie Patriots Day did - muscling up and taking action, the epitome of Boston Strong.
As it turned out, the 'Midnight Ride' prepared colonials for the first battles of the Revolutionary War the next day - the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19th of 1775.
So, will you be a STUD citizen, that means a wicked awesome citizen, when called upon to warn and help your community? Will you have the courage to do what other citizens are afraid to do for others? - like my character, Tommy Saunders, and others in movie Patriots Day did - muscling up and taking action, the epitome of Boston Strong.
[ Midnight Ride map by Courtney Skinner - approved for educational use ]
[ Speaker 2 - read blue text only]
And, now, I'm going to turn it over to one of Boston's sports heroes - David Ortiz. He was instrumental in inspiring Bostonians to come together, become Boston Strong, and overcome the Boston Marathon bombing fallout. His famous pre-game speech ???
And, now, I'm going to turn it over to one of Boston's sports heroes - David Ortiz. He was instrumental in inspiring Bostonians to come together, become Boston Strong, and overcome the Boston Marathon bombing fallout. His famous pre-game speech ???
[ Speaker 3 - read blue text only]
Hi, I'm David Ortiz, a proud, but saddened American. I was born in the Dominican Republic, an island in the Caribbean, and was blessed to be able to come to America to play baseball and become a U.S. citizen. While we're currently facing some major obstacles to fulfill America's promise to all of its citizens. We and our country are not perfect. But, America is the greatest country in the world, and like ourselves, still has much room for improvement and we can all be part of that solution. We need to all come together and ensure all citizens attain 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." And, I'm here to recognize this week's fallen patriots - the military and first responders who died in the line of duty - while serving and protecting our nation and its communities.
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:
Hi, I'm David Ortiz, a proud, but saddened American. I was born in the Dominican Republic, an island in the Caribbean, and was blessed to be able to come to America to play baseball and become a U.S. citizen. While we're currently facing some major obstacles to fulfill America's promise to all of its citizens. We and our country are not perfect. But, America is the greatest country in the world, and like ourselves, still has much room for improvement and we can all be part of that solution. We need to all come together and ensure all citizens attain 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." And, I'm here to recognize this week's fallen patriots - the military and first responders who died in the line of duty - while serving and protecting our nation and its communities.
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:
No U.S. troops were killed in a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone this past week. But, sadly, one soldier died at Fort Bliss in Texas - US Army Private First Class Oakley.
So, we honor and thank him and all our troops for defending our freedoms.
So, we honor and thank him and all our troops for defending our freedoms.
[pictured from lef to right: Detroit Police Captain Parnell, Deputy Phouangphrachanh in North Carolina, Detective Kirk in Kentucky, Officer Breann Leath in Indiana, Chief Robert Sealock in Pennsylvania, Chief Terry Engle in Illinois, and Deputy Ladue in South Carolina.]
[pictured from lef to right: Detroit Fire Captain Williams, Chief Waters in North Carolina, and Firefigther Field in New York]
And, back on the homefront, ...
... unfortunately, there were 10 first responders, 7 police officers and 3 firefighters, who died in the line of duty recently.
The 7 policemen were from Michigan, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and South Carolina. Two of the police officers died from COVID-19 sicknesses.
And, the 3 firefighters were from Michigan, North Carolina, and New York. One of the firefighters died while fighting COVID-19.
We honor and thank these 10 first responders for serving and protecting their communities.
... unfortunately, there were 10 first responders, 7 police officers and 3 firefighters, who died in the line of duty recently.
The 7 policemen were from Michigan, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and South Carolina. Two of the police officers died from COVID-19 sicknesses.
And, the 3 firefighters were from Michigan, North Carolina, and New York. One of the firefighters died while fighting COVID-19.
We honor and thank these 10 first responders for serving and protecting their communities.
[ Speaker ? - read blue text only]
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, empowered with inspiring stories from Our Flag, like that of the full story of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, you can now recite the Pledge more meaningfully. ;)
Please, unite and say together:
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, empowered with inspiring stories from Our Flag, like that of the full story of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, you can now recite the Pledge more meaningfully. ;)
Please, unite and say together:
"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."
Thanks for being part of today's Pledge of Allegiance Tribute.
And, join us again next Friday.
Until then, [insert Speaker's name] signs-off by asking you to ...
... go out and Be a STUD Citizen, that means be an awesome, citizen.
Keep America beautiful.
And remember, "In God We Trust."
Thanks for being part of today's Pledge of Allegiance Tribute.
And, join us again next Friday.
Until then, [insert Speaker's name] signs-off by asking you to ...
... go out and Be a STUD Citizen, that means be an awesome, citizen.
Keep America beautiful.
And remember, "In God We Trust."
[ In God We Trust is the official motto of the United States of America ]
[ Watch this Virtual Flag Tribute & Pledge ceremony, test broadcasted in April, which also relayed the story of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride ]
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