pre-Pledge Tribute

[ Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of Oct 28 - Nov 3 ]
[ Note: Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ONLY READ THE TEXT IN BLUE. We recommend 3 speakers lead and read aloud the 3 parts of the pre-Pledge ceremony. ]
[ SPEAKER 1 - read blue text only]

Good morning / afternoon / evening, __(insert name of your group - like "Heritage Elementary" or "Scout Troop")__.
Welcomes to this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute
powered by Flag Steward
[ for the week of Oct 28 - Nov 3 ]

Today's Flag Status
[ for Nov 3, 2018 ]
Across America, the US Flag flies at full staff, except in South Dakota and New York. And, special State Flag half-staff in Pennsylvania.

GO HERE to find details about the state half-staffs

[ SPEAKER 2 - read blue text only ]
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

[ public domain image ]

Thankfully, there were no US service members killed in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) this past week. So far, in 2018, there have been 22 fallen GWOT soldiers (14 Iraq & 8 Afghanistan).

Back on the homefront ...

[ (Left to Right - Top to Bottom) Ricardo Davis (no pic), Dennis Vincent, Farrah Turner, Antwan Toney, and Kevin Conner =Pics from Law Enforcement agencies and ODMP.org ]

Unfortunately, 5 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty recently - Police Officer Ricardo Davis in Illinois, Assistant Chief of Police Dennis Vincent in Utah, Investigator Farrah Turner in South Carolina, Police Officer Antwan Toney in Georgia, and Trooper Kevin Conner in North Carolina.

Please, pray for all these fallen patriots and their family and friends in mourning.

[To leave a message and review the most detailed account of this year's law enforcement officers' line of duty deaths, please visit the
Officer Down Memorial Page]
[This Fallen Peace Officers feature is powered by the:]

w[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

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

[ 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. And, Adams was 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.

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

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 John Adams.

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

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END OF CEREMONY
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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.