Daily Flag-Raisings

Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony

At the center of Beacon of Honor's mission to build more informed and inspired citizens, especially student-citizens, is an enlightening, uplifting, and patriotic way to start your day. The Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag ceremony is a 1-3 minute observance that notifies citizens of the daily flag status, fallen combatants, a historical reminder, and other good citizenship content. At schools, sporting events, and other community gatherings, this ceremony is performed as a prelude to make the Pledge, Anthem, or other U.S. Flag observance more engaging and meaningful.

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Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag Ceremony
for Tuesday, March 28, 2017

READ THE CEREMONY SCRIPT IN BIG BOLD BELOW
[Note: You're welcome to play 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' in the background to enhance the ceremony experience]

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

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:
The Beacon of Honor tells us that, across the USA, Our Flag flies at full-staff, except in Wisconsin and New Hampshire. Wisconsin's half-staff flag honors Detective Jason Weiland who was killed in the line of his police duties. New Hampshire's half-staff honors the sudden passing of State Senator, and current National Education Association President for New Hampshire, Scott McGilvray.

Click here to verify Our Flag's (the U.S. Flag's) current status across the USA

FALLEN COMBATANTS:
Do we have any new fallen combatants / fallen soldiers to honor?

While we were away for Spring Break, Sergeant First Class Robert Boniface died on March 19th in a non-combat related incident in Afghanistan. This Special Forces Green Beret from El Centro, California, was serving as a "medical sergeant" - considered to be the best first-response medical technicians in combat. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
[Read more about SFC Boniface here]

TODAY'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

American Determination ...
On this date, March 28th, of 1990, then President George H. W. Bush awarded James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award given to civilians (non-military persons) in the U.S.. Jesse Owens was a track and field star at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. In front of Hitler and in the face of discrimination, Jesse Owens won 4 Gold Medals (in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m races and the long jump). Jesse Owens' accomplishments on and off the track lived up to this award for
Americans "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture."

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and make this Pledge of Allegiance (or National Anthem or flag-raising) more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells.

[No copyright: Image found on ThingLink.com]

Lyrics by Francis Scott Key [Image: No copyright. Found on http://www.wadeburleson.org]

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END OF CEREMONY
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Now, go be a good citizen!!!

... 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.
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
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