Pledge of Allegiance Tribute ceremony (week of April 6 to 12)

[ 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. 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 (U.S. & State) Flags are half-staff to honor COVID-19 victims ...
... In, Pennsylvania, all STATE (Commonwealth) Flags are half-staff for COVID-19 victims ...
... Georgia orderd 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 ]

[ 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're reminded of 3 other major fights that happened this week in American history. The Civil War, which pitted Americans against Americans, 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 what was called "the Great War," also known as World War I.

[ Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003) ]

And, within America's current Global War on Terror, the Battle of Baghdad to overthrow Iraq's tyrant leader Saddam Hussein, started and ended this week in 2003.
America fought and won all of these battles to secure freedom for citizens at home and overseas. And, now, eventhough we may feel trapped, we will win out and enjoy our American freedoms again soon.

[ Student speaker 3 - read blue text only]

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

There was 1 Army soldier who died in a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone this past week. Sergeant First Class John Hilty died in a non-combat incident in Iraq. And, in Alaska, 2 troops also died on unknown reasons - Specialist Milik Craig and Sergeant Cody Randall. So, we honor and thank these soldiers for defending our freedoms.

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 Sheriff Coker in Hutchinson County, Texas, Riverside County Sheriff's Office Deputies Young and Werksman in California, Chicago Police Officer DiFranco, and Broward County Deputy Bennett in Florida (pictured from left to right - top to bottom). Sheriff Coker died of a heart attack while on duty. And, the other four officers contracted COVID-19, while on duty, and died as a result of the virus.
The firefighter, Assistant Chief Johnson, of the Tullytown Fire Department 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, ...
... 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 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.