Pre-Anthem Tribute (3/4-3/10)

[ Note: Before starting this tribute, 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-Anthem tribute script below. We recommend that you read aloud all the ceremony text with 1 exception. Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ]

Good afternoon / evening, __(insert name of location - like "Shea Stadium")__
Welcome to today's
Beacon of Honor
Pre-Anthem Tribute
[ for the week of March 4 - 10 ]

Fans you're invited to follow this 2-minute ceremony by installing the 'PlaceApp' and scrolling down to the Pre-Anthem Ceremony link.
PLEASE, BE RESPECTFUL and LISTEN CLOSELY

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.)___.

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

During this past week, thankfully, there have been no new fallen military service members serving in the Global War on Terrorism - in Iraq or Afghanistan. So far, in 2018, there have been 3 fallen U.S. Army soldiers - 2 serving in Iraq and 1 in Afghanistan.

[ from left to right: Police Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, Deputy Pickett, Police Officer Smith, and Deputy Locklear - photo courtesy of ODMP.org ]

Across the USA, within the past week, four law enforcement officers died while on patrol duty.
Police Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, protected Clinton, Missouri
Deputy Sheriff Jacob Pickett, served Boone County, Indiana
Police Officer Rodney Smith, protected Hickman, Kentucky.
Deputy Sheriff Alexis Locklear, served Scotland County, North Carolina.
Please, pray for these fallen peace officers and their family, friends, and teammates in mourning.

To learn more about these law enforcement officers' lives, please visit the
Officer Down Memorial Page - http://ODMP.org

[This Fallen Patriots feature is powered by the:]

THIS WEEK'S HISTORICAL REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

[ Drawing of Boston Massacre engraved and printed by Paul Revere = public domain image ]

On March 5, 1770, Colonial Bostonians, who felt oppressed by King George III's unfair rules and taxes in Boston, surrounded a group of British soldiers guarding the Boston Customs House and threw snowballs at them. When one of the British soldiers was struck, they lost their cool and opened fire, firing their musket rifles, upon the Bostonians - killing 5 and injuring 6 of them.

[ Drawing of Boston Massacre featuring Crispus Attucks, considered first American killed in Revolutionary War = public domain image ]

These killings outraged many Bostonians, including Sam Adams and Paul Revere. These two published drawings of the 'Boston Massacre' and distributed them to rally Colonists to revolt against their British rulers. This is considered by many to be the beginning of the road to the American Revolutionary War.

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand for the playing / singing of our National Anthem by _____ _______. Place your hand upon your heart and be mindful of the Boston Massacre and America's spirited pursuit of liberty that was sparked by this event.

Thanks for participating in today's Flag Steward
Pre-Pledge Ceremony
Now, go be a good citizen!!!

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END OF CEREMONY
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In God We Trust
(Official motto of the United States of America)

[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