pre-Pledge Tribute

[ Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of Nov 4 - Nov 12 ]
[ 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 Nov 4 - 12 ]

Today's Flag Status
[ for Nov 12, 2018 ]
Across America, the US Flag flies at full staff, except in New Jersey - where it is half-staff to honor Veterans Day and the end of WWI.

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

[ public domain image ]

Sadly, there was one US service member, Major Brent Taylor, of the Utah Army National Guard, killed in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) this past Saturday. Major Taylor, who also served as Mayor of North Ogden, UT, was a 39 year-old military intelligence officer training the Afghan Army. He was shot and killed, and another soldier injured, during an insider attack by an Afghan Army traitor.

Back on the homefront ...

[ (Left to Right) Travis Wells and Loren Vasquez =Pics from Law Enforcement agencies and ODMP.org ]

Unfortunately, 2 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty recently - Corporal Travis Wells in North Carolina and Deputy Loren Vasquez in Texas.

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:
... November 11th was originally called 'Armistice Day'? ...

[ German WWI leadership signs the armistice (truce) with Allied Forces (France, England, USA) aboard a train in France =public domain image ]

During this week in U.S. History, on November 11, 1954, Veterans Day replaced Armistice Day as our national holiday. Armistice Day, which occurred 100 years ago, commemorated the Germans signing the armistice (truce) with the Allied forces on November 11th of 1918 thus ending World War I. After World War II and the Korean War, Congress decided to rename Armistice Day as Veterans Day. That way it would remember the sacrifices of all those who served in our military and not just those of World War I.

[ =public domain image ]

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 Veterans who swore to support and defend the US Constitution.

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

[ Note - not known by many Veterans... According to the Flag Code, Veterans should salute during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem - as a way to inform flag ceremony attendees of those who served.]

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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.