MS/HS Pre-Pledge Ceremony (11/26-12/2)

[ Note: Before starting this ceremony, CLICK TO CHECK 'TODAY'S FLAG STATUS'. If your state is at half-staff, memorize the honoree's name and job/position, so you can say it within today's pre-Pledge ceremony script below. We recommend that you read aloud all the ceremony text, except: do not read any text with [brackets] around it. ]

Good morning, ___(insert name of location - like "Heritage Elementary")___
Welcome to this week's
Beacon of Honor
Pre-Pledge Ceremony
[ for the week of November 26th to December 2nd, 2017 ]

[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 Patriotic Citizens ...

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

In our state, the Stars and Stripes flies 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 - only say if your state is at half-staff today:]
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 rep, etc.)___ for our state.

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... The 'first lady of the Civil Rights movement' ...

[ Rosa Parks sits at the front of a Montgomery city bus after the Supreme Court outlawed segregation of bus seating in 1956. Rosa bravely and justifiably refused to give up her seat and move back to the 'Colored' seats at the back of the bus on December 1, 1955. = public domain pics ]

During this week in American history, December 1st of 1955 to be exact, Rosa Parks rightfully and courageously refused to give up her bus seat to a white man and move to the black section of the city bus. For this, at the time called an illegal act, Rosa Parks was arrested by Montgomery, Alabama police. After her arrest, African-Americans in Montgomery made a year-long boycott of the city bus system.
Rosa Park's brave actions that day on the bus are considered the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Thankfully, legal challenges to Montgomery's city bus racial segregation (aka - unfair treatment of people because of the color of their skin) was taken all the way to the U.S Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the bus system racial discrimination (aka - inequality) was illegal and that buses had to be desegregated (aka - equally accessed and used by people of all skin colors).

THIS WEEK'S (NEW) FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS' COMMEMORATION:

[ public domain image ]

Thankfully, there are no new fallen combatants from the current Global War of Terrorism this week.
We honor, thank, and pray for all those service members who are defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart, and make this Pledge of Allegiance more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells - like that of Rosa Parks, the 'first lady of the civil rights movement.'

Thanks for participating in today's Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag
Pre-Pledge Ceremony
Now, go be a good citizen!!!

################
END OF 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