Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of November 10 - 16 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within

[ Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of Dec. 15-21 will be posted by 11pm EST on Mon., Dec. 16 ]

[ 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 December 8th - 14th

Half-Staff Alerts for December 13
The U.S. Flag is FULL STAFF across 45 of 50 states
...The U.S. & State Flags across COLORADO, NEW JERSEY, ARKANSAS, and FLORIDA are half-staff...
...The TEXAS State Flag in Houston, TX is half-staff...
...And, locally All Flags in Nassau Bay, TX...

[ 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:
... celebrates America's pioneering spirit and its moon landings ...

[ Apollo 17 Mission Commander, Eugene Cernan, driving Lunar Roving Vehicle on Dec. 11, 1972 = public domain image ]

During this week in American history, ...
From December 11th to 14th, in 1972, Apollo 17's American astronauts, Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, were the last humans on the surface of the moon - doing spacewalks, lunar rover drives, and completing scientific experiments. This was the sixth and final Apollo mission, between 1969 to 1972, to put astronauts on the moon. Surprisingly, 50 years later, the United States is still the first, last, and only country to put humans on the moon.

[ Apollo 11 crew on left (Armstrong, Collins, Aldrin) and Apollo 17 crew on right (Schmitt, Cernan-seated, & Evans) = public domain images ]

Since there was no school when America celebrated the 50 Anniversary of first putting a human on the moon this past July, let us revisit that historic event now.

On July 20 of 1969, the Apollo 11 lunar landing spacecraft, reached the moon, and Neil Armstrong, the Mission Commander, stated, "The Eagle has landed." for all to hear back on Earth. A short time later, astronaut Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon and famously proclaimed,
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

[ Buzz Aldrin with equipment for moon experiment. Pic by Neil Armstrong = public domain image ]

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

Thankfully, there were no soldiers killed while serving in Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zones last week. But, unfortunately, there were 6 military members killed in the line of duty in 2 different incidents last week. Minnesota National Guard soldiers, Chief Warrant Officers Rogers and Nord and Sergeant Plantenberg, were killed in a helicopter crash. And, in Florida, US Navy sailors Haitham, Walters, and Watson were shot and killed during a terrorist attack on base.

... And, back on the homefront ...

Sadly, ... there were 7 first responders who died in the line of duty last week. The 4 fallen police officers were Sergeant Voth in Colorado, Agent Clardy in Alabama, Sergeant Brewster in Texas, and Officer Carr in Arkansas. And, the 3 fallen firefighters were Fire Chief White in New York, firefighter Childs in Georgia, and firefigther Jones in Colorado.
We honor and thank these patriots for serving and protecting their communities.

[ 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 those of our brave Apollo missions astronauts.

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.