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 6 - 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")__.
Welcome to this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute
powered by Flag Steward
[ for the week of Jan 6 - 12 ]

Today's (Jan. 13th) Flag Status 
Across the USA, Our Flag flies at full staff, except in IA, CA, and SC.

[ 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 ]

Fortunately, there were no US military service members killed in Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zones this past week. During 2018, a total of 32 US service members died while assigned to GWOT combat units - 17 serving in Iraq and 15 serving in Afghanistan.

[ Pictured from Left to Right and Top (Police) to Bottom (Fire & EMS): Chicago Police Officers Eduardo Marmolejo and Conrad Gary, Louisville (KY) Detective Deidre Mengedoht, Newman (CA) Corporal Ronil Singh, and Henry Cty (GA) Police Officer Michael Smith... East Olympia (WA) Fire Captain John Ostergard, Coal Township (PA) Captain Scott Dannehimer, Howell Volunteer FD (MS) Captain Bobby Dunnaway, Mizpah (NJ) Volunteer Firefighter Natalie Dempsey, and Manchester (PA) EMT Robert Kohler Sr. ]

Back on the home front:
Sadly, during the past 2 weeks, there have been lots of First Responders killed in the Line of Duty - 5 police and 5 fire / EMS. The 5 fallen peace officers served and protected communities in Illinois, Kentucky, California, and Georgia.
And, the 5 fallen Fire personnel served communities in Washington, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and New Jersey.

Please, pray for all these fallen first responders 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:
... The first State of the Union ...

[ public domain image ]

During this week in American history, on January 8, 1790, to be exact, President George Washington delivered the first 'State of the Union'. The State of the Union Address , called the "Annual Message" until 1947, is a presentation by the President that tells the condition of the country and usually includes such subjects as the federal budget, an economic report, and new legislation (laws). The President gives "The State of the Union Address" to a joint session of Congress. Most citizens (including myself) probably don't realize that Article II of the US Constitution requires the President to present this information to Congress each year. And, it wasn't until the 28th President, Woodrow Wilson, that the State of the Union was given regularly as a speech in front of Congress. Before then, the Presidents wrote a letter to Congress about the condition (state) of the United States. George Washington delivered the first "Annual Message", the shortest ever (only 1,089 words), before Congress, then assembled in New York City. His speech didn't have many details on goals or accomplishments from his first year in office; instead, it highlighted the importance of cooperation and compromise to help our young nation.

[ painting of GW's first State of the Union Address - via MountVernon.org / public domain image ]

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!!!

################
END OF CEREMONY
################

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.