pre-Pledge Tribute

[ Disappointingly, the Pledge has become a trivial, mundane task in most of America's classrooms. So, Flag Steward is disrupting the Pledge - making it more engaging and meaningful by way of our tech-driven, civic-minded weekly program called the "Pre-Pledge Tribute." Give Our Flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and your Citizenship the honor and respect they deserve by performing a weekly Pre-Pledge Tribute.
Students, Scouts, and Civics Groups are invited to perform a weekly Pre-Pledge Tribute by following the script below, ideally led by 3 speakers. ]

[ Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of Jan 13- 19 ]
[ 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")__.
Welcome to this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute
powered by Flag Steward
[ for the week of Jan 13 - 19 ]

Today's (Jan. 19th) Flag Status 
Our Flag is at full staff in 48 of 50 states. New York and Alabama have the US and State Flags at half-staff.
In addition, the US Flag on the Texas Capitol building and in Hansford County, TX are half-staff, as well as, the in the city of Shreveport, LA
[Note: NY's half-staff til interment (TBD), AL's til sunset on 1/20, TX's Hansford Cty til sunset on 1/19, and Shreveport til sunset 1/20]

[ GO HERE to find details about the state half-staffs ]

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

[ battlefield cross = public domain image ]

Thankfully, there were no US military service members killed in Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zones this past week.

But, back on the homefront, ...

[ from left to right and top to bottom: Officer Shinners of Provo PD, UT; Officer Woods of Colerain PD, OH; Officer Corona of Davis PD, CA; Officer Townsend of Salt River PD, AZ; Trooper Lambert of IL State Police, and Sergeant Carter of the Birmingham PD, AL ... plus ... Lieutenant Hosette of Clinton FD, IA and Firefighter Steven Pollard of NYC Ladder 170, NY ]

... Sadly, during this past week, 8 First Responders were killed in the Line of Duty, including 6 police and 2 firefighters. The 6 fallen peace officers served and protected communities in Utah, Ohio, Arizona, California, Illinois, and Alabama.
And, the fallen firefighters served in Iowa and NYC.

For you young drivers ( and older ones now too ;), a sad lesson was learned when Officer Townsend, while making a traffic stop in Arizona, was run-over and killed by a driver who was texting while driving - leaving behind a wife and 10-month old son. So, please, DON'T TEXT WHILE DRIVING!

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 Officer Down Memorial Page and the Fire and EMS Line of Duty Deaths is powered by the FireHouse website]

w[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... Celebrating the life of America's greatest Civil Rights leader ...

Who did MLK Jr. work with to pass our society-changing Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act?

[ picture collage of public domain images showing MLK Jr with President Lyndon Johnson, MLK giving his 'I have a Dream' speech, and MLK at the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. ]
During this week in American history, on January 15, 1929, to be exact, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, GA. His father was a Baptist minister and he became one as well - using his Christian principles to mold his nonviolent protests against human injustices. Between 1954 and 1968, Martin Luther King Jr (aka MLK) led a number of significant events, protests, and meetings that greatly improved the outlook of civil rights in America.
During the next week, you should search and explore the Internet to learn more about these heroic acts by MLK:
1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott (joining Rosa Parks)
1963 March on Washington (where he gave his 'I have a Dream' speech)
1965 Selma to Montgomery Marches
These actions led to important, new civil rights laws, like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed by President Lyndon B Johnson. MLK was recognized for his great works when given the:
Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Congressional Gold Medal.

In closing, let's test your listening and imagination by reliving MLK's famous 'I have a Dream' Speech. Scroll through the pictures below to set the scene, then close your eyes and imagine being on the National Mall in Washington, DC as MLK gives his speech - now condensed to 1 minute instead of more than 10 ;)

[ MLK's view of the crowd for his speech ]

[ MLK giving the speech ]

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.

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.