Pledge of Allegiance Tribute ceremony (week of April 5 to 12)

Flag Steward's National 'Pledge' Ceremony, broadcast on Instagram Live by Elementary School students, begins at TBD on Fri., Apr. 10th with ...
... the U.S. Flag-raising while Reveille plays

[ Ceremony leader - read blue text only]

Good day, USA!!!
... and especially to our Online / Remote Learning Students across America!
Welcome to the Pledge of Allegiance Tribute for the week of April 6 - 12

[ Student speaker 1 - read blue text only]

Where is Our Flag lowered to half-staff today (April 10th)?
... Across Michigan, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey all Flags are half-staff to honor COVID-19 victims ...
... In, Pennsylvania, all STATE Flags are half-staff for COVID-19 victims ...
... Georgia ordered all Flags to half-staff across the state to honor a State Judge ...
... Utah has the Flags flying on its State Capitol grounds half-staff for a former State Rep. ...
... And, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Riverside, California and at Purdue & Indiana University campuses all Flags are half-staff to honor fallen local patriots. ...

If you want to learn more about the people for whom today's half-staff remembers, click on the link below the map.

[ GO HERE to review details about the half-staffs and their honorees - including portraits.
FYI - blue labels are new half-staff orders. ]

[ Student speaker 2 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S STORY FROM OUR FLAG:
... reminds us that Americans know how to battle and overcome! ...

[ Civil War - Battle of Fort Donelson (1862) ]

As we battle an invisible enemy across the USA and around the world today, we are reminded of 3 other major fights that happened this week in American history. The Civil War sadly had Americans fighting Americans. And it began on April 12, in 1861, with the Battle of Fort Sumter, in South Carolina.

[ World War I - American troops celebrating victory (1918) ]

Then, back on April 6, of 1917, the U.S. Congress declared war on Germany and entered World War I - which turned out to not be the "war to end all wars."

[ Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003) ]

And, within America's current Global War on Terror, the Battle of Baghdad started and ended this week in 2003.
America fought and won all these battles to bring liberty to people in USA, Europe, and Iraq.

Now, you may feel trapped by the virus, but soon, WE WILL WIN OUT and enjoy our American freedoms again.

[ Student speaker 3 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

[pictured left to right: U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Hilty, Specialist Craig, and Sergeant Randall]

There was 1 Army soldier who died in Iraq, a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone, this past week. Two Army troops also died while stationed in Alaska.
So, we honor and thank these 3 soldiers for defending our freedoms.

[pictured left to right and top to bottom: Hutchinson County (Texas) Sheriff Coker, Riverside County (California) Deputy Young, Riverside County (California) Deputy Werksman, Chicago Police Officer DiFranco, and Broward County (Florida) Deputy Bennett]

[picture: Tullytown Assistant Fire Chief Rick Johnson]

And, back on the homefront, ...
... sadly, there were 6 first responders, 5 police officers and 1 firefighter, who died in the line of duty recently. The 5 policemen were in Texas, California, Illinois, and Florida. Four of the 5 officers died from coronavirus problems.
And, the firefighter, in Pennsylvania, also died from a coronavirus illness.
We honor and thank these 6 first responders for serving and protecting their communities.

[ Ceremony leader - read blue text only]

Now, in closing, ...
#UnitedWeStand
#UnitedWeRecite
#UnitedWeOvercome
... Please, stand, place your hand upon our heart, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance 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, Flag Steward 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 ]

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

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.