Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of January 13 - 19 2020 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag (half-staff alerts)

[ 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 January 13 - 19, 2020

Half-Staff Alerts for January 20 / MLK Day
The U.S. Flag is FULL STAFF across 44 of 50 states
...There are local half-staffs of the all Flags in Aurora, Illinois, Wilmington, Delaware, Los Angeles County, California, Commerce City, California, and Madison County, Virginia ...

[ 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:
... celebrating the life of America's civil rights leader ...

During this week in American history, ...
... on January 15, of 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who followed in his dad's footsteps to become a Christian minister, was famous delivering emotionally stirring speeches and spreading his love for justice and equality for all Americans from 1954 to 1968. Some of his most famous acts to ensure civil rights (equality and justice for all men and women) in America included the:
1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott (with Rosa Parks)
1963 March on Washington (where he gave his 'I have a Dream' speech)
1965 Selma to Montgomery Marches
His civil rights leadership led to new laws for equality - like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which MLK worked directly with U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson to pass and enforce.

[If you want to revisit his famous 'I have a dream' speech, GO HERE to check-out our Pre-Pledge Tribute from August - the anniversary date of the memorable speech and march on Washington, D.C..]

[ President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Right Act of 1964, with MLK at his side = public domain images ]

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

Unfortunately, there were two soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan, a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone, this past week. Two soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Private First Class Villalon of Chicago, Illinois, and Staff Sergeant McLaughlin of Virginia, were killed in action when their military vehicle struck an improved explosive device (IED).
[ GO HERE to read more about this incident]

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

Sadly, ... there were 6 first responder honorees who died in the line of duty last week.
The 5 fallen police officers were Investigator Fortini of the New York State Police, Detective O'Flaherty of the New York City Police Department, Officer Singleton in Tennessee, Officer Winkeler in South Carolina, and Officer Dunn in Florida (all pictured left to right & top to bottom).
And, the fallen firefighter was West Peculiar firefighter McCormick in Missouri.
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 that of the "put others before yourself" life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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.