Pre-Anthem Tribute (8/27-9/2)

[ Note: Before starting this ceremony, CLICK HERE 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 ceremony script below. We recommend that you read aloud, in the best performance voice you have, all the ceremony text, except: do not read any text with [brackets] around it. ]

Good afternoon/evening, ___(insert ceremony location name (like "Heritage Elementary")___
Welcome to this week's
Beacon of Honor
Pre-Anthem Tribute
[for the week of August 27 to September 2, 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 Citizens ...

[ This week's Pre-Anthem lesson teaser: Approximately how many attended the 'March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom' = public domain image ]

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

In our state, the Stars and Stripes files 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, police officer, etc.)___ for our state.

THIS WEEK'S PRE-ANTHEM TRIBUTE:
Please, close your eyes and listen closely.
We live in the land of the free - because of the brave. Brave women and men like ...

[ 2nd Lt. Stephen Gregg being awarded the Medal of Honor - which he says he put in his back pocket and then loaded up to go do more fighting ;) = U.S. Army - public domain image ]

U.S. Army Second Lieutenant Stephen Gregg of Bayonne, NJ.
While in France on August 27, 1944, then Tech Sergeant Gregg, was in close combat with a German platoon. He provided cover fire for a combat medic trying to aid 7 wounded Americans. The Germans kept firing at the medic, so Gregg grabbed a machine gun and began firing it from his hip with the medic behind him. The medic was able to evacuate the 7 wounded soldiers while Gregg ran out of ammunition and was briefly surrounded by Germans. Fortunately, Gregg was able to escape.

The next morning, the Germans launched a counter-assault supported by tanks. From a forward observer position directing mortar fire, Gregg targeted more than 600 mortar rounds on German tanks and troops. When communication with his mortar team was knocked out in the afternoon, he moved back to fix it. Along the way, he was told that the Germans had captured his mortar team and were now lobbing rounds at the Americans. So, Gregg, under cover fire from two teammates, crawled up threw a grenade into the mortar position, then charged in killing 3 Germans and capturing 2. He then put his mortar section back into action firing upon the Germans.

For risking his life above and beyond the call of duty, Stephen Gregg, a Tech Sergeant promoted to Second Lieutenant, received the Medal of Honor and lived to tell about it.
[Go here to read 2nd Lt. Gregg's full Medal of Honor citation.]

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and make this National Anthem more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells -
like that of Second Lieutenant Gregg,
who fought to defend our freedoms and liberate Europeans from the Nazis.

Only those Americans who are willing to die for their country are fit to live.
-Douglas MacArthur

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

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END OF CEREMONY
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... And, here are more music selections to use with your flag 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