[ Note: We recommend 3 student-speakers read aloud the 3 parts of the pre-Pledge ceremony. And, assign 1 student to show the ceremony on the clasroom screen. 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, leading today's Pre-Pledge ceremony along with special guests Kate Roscoe and Amaya Green. This weekly tribute, with its interesting Stories from Our Flag, should inspire you to Be a STUD Citizen - that means be you can be better than a good citizen, you can be an awesome citizen.
...
[ 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, leading today's Pre-Pledge ceremony along with special guests Kate Roscoe and Amaya Green. This weekly tribute, with its interesting Stories from Our Flag, should inspire you to Be a STUD Citizen - that means be you can be better than a good citizen, you can be an awesome citizen.
...
[ 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."
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."
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 Kate Roscoe. Four years ago, as a 6th Grader, she was one of the founding students of the Pre-Pledge Tribute program.
And, now, I'm going to turn it over to Kate Roscoe. Four years ago, as a 6th Grader, she was one of the founding students of the Pre-Pledge Tribute program.
[ Speaker 2 - read blue text only]
Hi, I'm Kate Roscoe, a Junior at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. And, I'm here to share with you ...
THIS WEEK'S STORY FROM OUR FLAG:
This week's Story from Our Flag is about "the midnight ride of Paul Revere," and his forgotten partners - William Dawes and Samuel Prescott
Hi, I'm Kate Roscoe, a Junior at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. And, I'm here to share with you ...
THIS WEEK'S STORY FROM OUR FLAG:
This week's Story from Our Flag is about "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. Revere, Dawes, and Prescott also told patriots in nearby Concord that the British army may march in to take their gunpowder and cannons. 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, when called upon to warn and help your community? Will you have the courage to what other citizens are afraid to do for others?
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, when called upon to warn and help your community? Will you have the courage to what other citizens are afraid to do for others?
[ 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 Amaya Green.
And, now, I'm going to turn it over to Amaya Green.
[ Speaker 3 - read blue text only]
Hi, I'm Amaya Green and I'm a Sophomore at Cherokee Trail High School within the Cherry Creek School District. I'm here to tell you about ...
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:
Hi, I'm Amaya Green and I'm a Sophomore at Cherokee Trail High School within the Cherry Creek School District. I'm here to tell you about ...
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, stand, place your hand upon your heart, 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, stand, place your hand upon your heart, 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 ]