pre-Pledge Tribute

[ Flag Steward is disrupting the Pledge - making it more engaging and meaningful by way of our weekly program called the "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 Feb 17-23 ]
[ 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 Feb 17-23 ]

Today's (Feb. 24th) Flag Status 
Our Flag is FULL STAFF in ALL50 states.

[ GO HERE to find details about the half-staffs ]

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

Thankfully, there was no US military service member killed in a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone last week.

But, back on the home front, ...

[ L to R: Detective Simonson; Agent Zanyet-Perez ]

... unfortunately, during this past week, 2 Peace Officers, died in the Line of Duty.
New York City Police Department (NYPD) Detective Brian Simonsen and Puerto Rico Police Department Agent Alfred Zanyet-Perez were shot and killed while pursuing suspects. Please, pray for these law enforcement Patriots who served and protected our communities.

[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]

w[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

"God Speed, John Glenn."
Those were the last words spoken to Astronaut John Glenn before his "Friendship 7" spacecraft lifted-off on its historic flight.
On February 20, 1962, Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. Glenn's "Mercury-Atlas 6" space mission completed three orbits of Earth in a flight lasting just under five hours.
Let's listen to an edited audio clip of John Glenn's space mission - from launch to parachute opening

A year earlier than Glenn's space flight, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space - completing one orbit of Earth on April 12, 1961. Glenn’s successful flight, which intensified the 'Space Race' between the United States and Russia, prompted President John F. Kennedy to challenge the U.S. put an American on the moon before the decade’s end.

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart, and be mindful of America's brave pioneers - like Astronaut John Glenn - as we proudly recite The Pledge of Allegiance together.

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.