Pledge of Allegiance Tribute ceremony (week of March 30 to April 5)

[ Looking for the Elementary Edition of the Pledge Tribute ceremony broadcast script? Then, GO / CLICK HERE ]

Flag Steward's National 'Pledge' Ceremony, broadcast on Instagram Live by Elementary School students, begins at TBD on Fri., Apr. 3rd 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 March 30 - April 5

[ Student speaker 1 - read blue text only]

Where is Our Flag lowered to half-staff today?
The U.S. Flag is half-staff across Massachusetts to honor military Veterans at "Soldiers' Home" in Holyoke who passed away.
North Carolina has the U.S. Flag half-staff across its state for a fallen State Trooper.
And, atop the California State Capitol all flags are half-staff for a fallen police detective.
Also, in the cities of Santa Rosa, California, Vidalia, Georgia, and Atlanta, Georgia, the U.S. Flag is half-staff to remember local fallen patriots.

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

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

[ Student speaker 2 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S STORY FROM OUR FLAG:
... tells us how the U.S. Flag lost 2 stripes back in 1818.

[ On the left is the 15-star, 15-stripe U.S. Flag that flew from 1795 to 1818 and inspired Sir Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner. On the right is the 20-star, 13-stripe U.S. Flag that Congress approved; and which, set guidelines for all the new versions of the U.S. Flag from then until now. ]

Two hundred and two (202) years ago, on April 4th in 1818, the United States Congress made a law that set new rules for the design of the U.S. Flag. At that time, the U.S. Flag had 15 stripes and 15 stars. It was changed to a 13-stripe, 20-star U.S. Flag.

So, why did Congress take away 2 stripes?
Twenty stripes of red and white was too much for the eyes. So, they reset the flag with 13-stripes as a tribute to the 13 original colonies. And, from then on, Congress decided that only 1 star would be added for each new state.
Since, 1818, we have added 30 stars to 24 different U.S. Flag looks. The last time the U.S. Flag was changed, to 50 stars, was 60 years ago, on July 4, 1960 - when Hawaii joined the Union.

[ Officially, there have been 27 different versions of the U.S. Flag since 1776. This pic shows 39 different, many unofficial designs, of the U.S. Flag showing all the times we've added new states to the Union. ]

[ Student speaker 3 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

Thankfully, there were no U.S. military service members killed in the Global War on Terror (GWOT), in Iraq or Afghanistan, this past week.
But, unfortunately, there were 3 troops who died while serving their country. So, we honor and thank Captain Hickok, a physician assistant in the New Jersey National Guard, and 2 United States Air Force Academy Cadets for defending our freedoms.

And, back on the homefront, ...

... sadly, there were 3 police officers who died in the line of duty recently.
Nevada State Trooper Sergeant Jenkins, North Carolina State Trooper Sanders, and Phoenix Police Commander Carnicle in Arizona were killed while on patrol.
We honor and thank these 3 fallen officers for serving and protecting their communities.

[ Ceremony leader - read blue text only]

Now, in closing, ...
... together we stand, place our 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 participating in 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" citizens, 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.