pre-Pledge Tribute

[ Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of Dec 2-8 ]
[ 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 Dec 2-8 ]

Today's Flag Status
[ for Dec 1 - 30, 2018 ]
Across America, the US Flag flies at HALF-STAFF to honor our 41st US President, George H W. Bush until sunset on Dec. 30th

Additionally, let us not forget that on December 7th, the US Flag at half-staff will also honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

And lastly, in Arizona, the half-staff Flags, on Dec. 7th, will also honor the burials of
Deputy U.S. Marshal Chase White and Congressman Ed Pastor.

[ SPEAKER 2 - read blue text only ]
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:
[ Note: Due to this week's special fallen honorees, we will have to honor, in next week's Pre-Pledge Tribute, the 5 military servicemen killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan these past 10 days ]

[ Aerial photo of the start of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - torpedo hitting USS West Virginia = public domain image from Japanese Imperial Navy ]

On December 7, 1941, a quiet, peaceful Sunday morning, was interrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 2,403 military service members and civilians. This deliberate, evil invasion, led by 353 Japanese aircraft, badly damaged the US Navy's Pacific Fleet. 4 of 8 US battleships were sunk as were 3 cruiser and 3 destroyer ships were sunk or badly damaged. The attack quickly brought America into World War II, a war in which more than 16 million Americans served in the armed forces and approximately 405,000 died.

[ USS Arizona sinking ]

[ USS Arizona Memorial = lost 1,177 sailors in the attack (nearly half of the total fallen that day) ]

w[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... December 7th and 8th of 1941 ...

[President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously proclaimed December 7th, 1941 ... "a date which will live in infamy" ... ]

Fellow students, just as our parents and grandparents vividly remember the tragedy of 9/11, our great-grandparents endured the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and rallied around Our Flag during 4-plus years of fighting in World War II to defeat the Axis Powers. So, let's go back in time to December 8th, 1941 and get a sense of America's reaction to this horrific attack by listening to FDR's speech to Congress and all of America via radio.

via GIPHY

To honor our World War II relatives and all those who fought, we now ask you to, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and make this Pledge of Allegiance more meaningful
by honoring Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the American lives lost that day, and the sacrifices made to win World War II.

POST CEREMONY:
Here's an original Pearl Harbor newsreel video (see below) to review after the Pre-Pledge Tribute. And there's also an article to read that highlights the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) efforts to identify the USS Oklahoma's fallen - nearly all 400 buried as unknowns in Hawaii. Using new technologies, 186 of nearly 400 unknowns were identified recently and their remains were sent back to their hometowns for proper burials. CLICK HERE to go to the article.

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