Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of October 13 - 19 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag (half-staff alerts)

[ Note: We recommend 3 student-speakers lead and read aloud the 3 parts of the pre-Pledge ceremony. And, assign 1 student to handle the ceremony tech - showing with a laptop or mobile device the ceremony on a screen. Select the 4 presenting students on Monday or Tuesday and have them practice the Pre-PLedge Tribute so on Friday they can give a good, clear, loud ceremony for their classmates ;) Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ONLY READ THE TEXT IN BLUE. ]

[ SPEAKER 1 - read blue text only]

Good morning / afternoon / evening, __(insert name of your group - like "Heritage Elementary" or "Scout Troop" or "Rotary Club")__.
Welcome to the Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of October 13th - 19th

Half-Staff Alerts for October 20
The U.S. & State Flags across MICHIGAN are half-staff
The MD State Flag is half-staff across MARYLAND
All Flags atop the VIRGINIA Capitol building are half-staff
And, there are local half-staffs of State, County and/or City Flags in San Antonio, TX and Columbia, SC

[ GO HERE to review details about the half-staffs and their honorees - including portraits ]

[ SPEAKER 2 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... the birth and life of William Penn ...

During this week, in American history, on October 14, in 1644, William Penn was born in London, England. He was the founder of (he set-up) the Province of Pennsylvania, then an English colony in North America. He led the planning and development of the city of Philadelphia and wrote the Pennsylvania Frame of Government - a roadmap and inspiration for our U.S. Constitution. He was also a supporter of religious freedom and self-government of the colonies. Interestingly, he didn’t become a U.S. citizen until President Reagan named him an Honorary Citizen of the United States of America in 1984 - more than 250 years after he died.

[ Wiiliam Penn receives paper (deed) to a vast amount of land in English America Colonies from England's King Charles II. Penn turned that land into the colony of Pennsylvania ]

[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

Thankfully, again, there were no soldiers killed while serving in a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone last week.

But, back on the homefront ...

[ Painting of Border Patrol Agent Robert Hotten by Jonny Castro ( https://www.facebook.com/jonnycastroart/?tn-str=k*F ) - an artist who's honored more than 500 fallen patriots (police officers, firefigthers, military, etc.) with free paintings to commemoration them ]

Sadly, ... there were 4 first responders who died in the line of duty recently. The 1 fallen peace officer was Border Patrol Agent Robert Hotten from Arizona.
And, the 3 Fallen Firefighters were Lexington County firefighter Paul Quattlebaum from South Carolina, Okanogan County Assistant Fire Chief Christian Johnson from Washington, and Burdett firefighter Dale Jaynes from New York.

Please, remember all of these fallen patriots and their family and friends who miss them dearly.

[ To review details of these first responder LODDs (Line of Duty Deaths), please visit the
Officer Down Memorial Page and Firehouse.com LODDs page ]

Now, 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 how the Pennsylvania Colony came to be.

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

################
END OF CEREMONY
################

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

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.