Pre-Pledge Ceremony (10/15-21)

[ Note: Before starting this ceremony, 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 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 morning, ___(insert name of location - like "Heritage Elementary")___
Welcome to this week's
Beacon of Honor
Pre-Pledge Ceremony
[ for the week of October 15 to 21, 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 ...

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 REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... The battle that ended the American Revolutionary War ...

[ General George Washington firing the first shot to start the Battle of Yorktown on October 9, 1781 =public domain image ]

During this week in American history, on October 19th, 1781 to be exact, the British Army, led by General Lord Cornwallis, surrendered to the Continental Army at Yorktown. More than 7,000 British troops of Cornwallis' army gave up to George Washington's troops. The war between Britain and its American colonies was effectively over. The colonial Americans finally had gained their full independence from British rule. The final peace treaty would be signed in Paris in 1783.

[ Continential Army soldiers, led by General Washington, overtake another British fortification at Yorktown. And, are seen raising the American Flag in victory. =public domain image ]

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN SERVICE MEMBER COMMEMORATION:

[ General MacArthur wading ashore the Philippines on Oct. 20, 1944 Public domain - U.S. Army image ]

During this past week, there have been no American service members killed in action during our current Global War on Terrorism.

But, during this week in American history, we do want to honor the 3,000 U.S. military personnel who were killed in action during World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. This battle was kicked-off when General MacArthur waded ashore the Philippines - living up to his famous words of "I shall return." The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest in naval history, involved more than 300 U.S. warships and 67 Japanese ships. By its end, the Japanese Navy was destroyed and America was on its way toward freeing the Philippino people from Japanese rule.

[ At the end of the Battle of Leyte Gulf (Oct. 26, 1944), the command ship of the Japanese Imperial Navy, Zuikaku, listing and nearly sunk, lowers its flags in defeat =public domain image]

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and make this Pledge of Allegiance more meaningful
by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells
- like that of the courageous Americans who fought in the Battle of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War and Battle of Leyte Gulf during World War II.

Yes, in the 1950s your grandparents / great-grandparents were clean cut and took the Pledge of Allegiance seriously - like the kid with his mouth wide open in the front row ;) [public domain image]

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

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END OF CEREMONY
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[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