Pre-Pledge Ceremony (11/12-18)

[ 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 November 12th to 18th, 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 first constitution ...

[ 1977 U.S. stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Articles of Confederation sits on top of a hand-written version of the document. = public domain images ]

On this date, November 15th, in 1777, the Articles of Confederation, which served as our first constitution, were confirmed by the Second Continental Congress and sent to the states for approval.
Thanks to the beliefs, wisdom, and efforts of Ben Franklin and John Dickinson, the first draft of the Articles of Confederation were presented during the summer of 1777 after a number of years of discussing and writing about the ways a national governing body could lead and represent the American colonies to other countries. These articles created a confederation, also known as a union, between the states.

[MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS - READ ON...]
The Articles of Confederation were established by Congress to state how our state and federal (United States) governments would work together - which at this stage placed most of the control with the states supported by a weak central (federal) government to manage big, national issues.
Thankfully, important powers were granted to the federal government, which was the Continental Congress at that time, to manage the American Revolutionary War, deal with foreign countries, handle Native American relations, and settle land disputes. Over the next 10 years, many problems, due to not having a strong federal government, came up. So, in 1787 the full U.S. Constitution was created to fix the Articles of Confederations shortcomings and established a strong, balanced set of national and state governing powers.

THIS WEEK'S (NEW) FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS' COMMEMORATION:

[ public domain image ]

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lee Smith
Died November 11, 2017 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lee Smith, 35, of the 101st Airborne Division, died at Camp Taji, Iraq, from non-combat injuries.
[summary courtesy of Military Times article]
We honor and thank Lee Smith for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.

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 America's Forefathers who established a government, through the Articles of Confederation, that successfully led and won the Revolutionary War.

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