Pledge of Allegiance Tribute ceremony (week of March 23 to 29)

National Ceremony, broadcast online, begins at 12pm EST / 9am PST with ...
... U.S. Flag-Raising with Reveille playing

Good morning, USA!!!
... and especially our Remote / Online learning Students across America!
Welcome to the Pledge of Allegiance Tribute for the week of March 23 - 29

Where is Our Flag, the U.S. Flag, at half-staff today?
The U.S. Flag is FULL STAFF across 48 of 50 states
...All Flags across NORTH CAROLINA are half-staff to honor 4 fallen soldiers...
...And, in OHIO, all Flags atop the Ohio Statehouse and across Mahoning and Hamilton counties are half-staff to remember a state representative and fallen officer...

[ GO HERE to review details about the half-staffs and their honorees - including portraits ]

THIS WEEK'S STORY FROM OUR FLAG:
... Reminds America's student-citizens that your ancestors faced and overcame worse situations before ...
And, now, it's your time to do the same.

[ Pictured above: Like NYC is building now to treat COVID-19 patients, a temporary field hospital was built in Boston, MA during the peak of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (aka the Spanish Flu). And, to reduce the spread of the deadly disease, Seattle police and street car operators in Seattle wore masks. That flu pandemic killed more than 675,000 Americans from 1918-1920. COVID-19 has killed approximately 1,000 Americans as of March 25th. ]

"I've never seen anything like this before," is a common statement nowadays. And, while that's true for Americans under 103 years old, we have overcome worse pandemic and quality of life restrictions before. During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, also known as the Spanish Flu, 675,000 Americans (equal to about 10 full NFL stadiums) died from the disease. It was brought back from Europe unknowingly by U.S. troops who fought and won World War I.
It took two years to fully defeat the worst disease to ever reach the USA. But, America, 100 years ago, united against a common enemy, a tiny virus, that thankfully didn't require us to bear arms and send troops overseas to set people free, beat that disease by doing the same things we are doing today. They simply put the health and safety of others before themselves. America stopped all large events and gatherings, stayed at home in isolation, put the sick in quarantine, kept distance between each other, and most importantly, they cleaned and disinfected their bodies, homes, and work spaces.
So, let's beat coronavirus by being good, health-focused citizens - like your relatives were 100 years ago.

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

Thankfully, there were no U.S. military service members killed in Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zones, Iraq or Afghanistan, this past week.
But, sadly, there were 3 troops who died while serving their country at U.S. military bases. U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Baker died during swim training in Florida. And U.S. Army Private First Class Gloria and Specialist Welch died of unknown causes in South Korea.

And, back on the homefront, ...

... unfortunately, there were 2 police officers who died in the line of duty recently - Springdale Police Officer Kaia Grant in Ohio and Washington State Trooper Justin Schaffer.

We honor and thank these 5 patriots for serving and protecting our country and their communities.

[ GO HERE to find links providing more details on the lives of these 5 fallen patriots ]

Now, please, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Place your hand upon your heart and be mindful of America's will to win - defeating the coronavirus by simply being good, health-focused citizens.

United, we say, "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 participating in today's Pledge of Allegiance Tribute.
And, join us again next Friday, at this same time and place.

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END OF CEREMONY
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In God We Trust
(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.

[ Note: Header photo is edited screenshot from GGM class / MrHeadMusic YTvid ]