Pre-Pledge Ceremony (10/29-11/4)

[ 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-Pledge ceremony script below. We recommend that you read aloud 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 29 to November 4, 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 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.)___ for our state.

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... Our 'Father of American Independence' ...

[ John Adams in 1793 (then, Vice President) ... painting by John Trumbull = public domain image ]

During this week in U.S. History, on October 30th of 1735, Sam Adams, the 2nd President of the United States, was born in Massachusetts. One of our truest patriots and most involved Founding Father, Sam Adams is only 1 of 2 men to help write and sign the Declaration of Independence and serve as President (the other being Thomas Jefferson). He also spent most of the Revolutionary War in Europe getting funds to support George Washington's Continental Army. He was also part of the team that negotiated, wrote, and signed the Treaty of Paris - ending the Revolutionary War. Amazingly, he lived to 90 and died on July 4th, 1826 - exactly 50 years after signing the Declaration of Independence. As President his biggest accomplishment was PEACE - keeping us out of the war between Great Britain and France.

[ John Adams, with hand on hip, at the signing of the Declaration of Independence =public domain image ]

THIS WEEK'S FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS' COMMEMORATION:

[ public domain image ]

Unfortunately, during this past week, on October 27th, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jacob Sims, 36, died Friday in Logar province, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained from a helicopter crash. CWO2 Sims, a pilot of the helicopter, was supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - assigned to 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.Six other service members were injured in the crash.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Jacob Sims and his life.

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 stories it tells - like that of our Father of American Independence, John Adams.

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