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 3-9 ]
[ 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 3-9 ]

Today's (Feb. 10th) Flag Status 
47 of 50 states are full staff. Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina are at half-staff.

[ 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. So far, in 2019, there have been 5 killed - 3 in Syria and 2 in Afghanistan.

And, back on the home front, ...

[ L to R, Top to Bottom: Ryer, Totty, Doss, and Brewer ]

... unfortunately, during this past week, 4 Peace Officers, died in the Line of Duty.
Deputy Joshua Bryan "LJ" Ryer, Jr., in Georgia, Corporal Shane Totty, in Louisiana, Border Patrol Agent Donna Doss in Texas, and Detective William Brewer, in Ohio, all died serving and protecting our communities.

Please, pray for all these fallen Patriots 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]

w[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

[ Union Army Sergeant William Harvey Carney with Our Flag and wearing Medal of Honor= public domain images ]

Following Flag Steward's focus on African-American military action for this year's Black History Month, we recall the first African American to be presented with the America's highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor. Sergeant William Harvey Carney, of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, was born in to slavery in Virginia in 1840. During his childhood, his family escaped and found freedom in Massachusetts. When of age, Carney volunteered to join the first African American unit in the Union army. 40 other black men served with Carney - including two of Frederick Douglass’ sons.

[ Carney leads the Massachusetts 54th Infantry Regiment's attack on Fort Wagner during the summer of 1863 = public domain image ]

Here is the Department of Defense's description of Carney’s heroics:
On July 18, 1863, the soldiers of Carney's regiment led the charge on ... the Confederates ... Fort Wagner. During the battle, the unit's color guard was shot. Carney, who was just a few feet away, saw the dying man stumble, and he scrambled to catch the falling U.S. flag. Despite suffering several serious gunshot wounds himself, Carney kept the symbol of the Union held high as he crawled up the hill to the walls of Fort Wagner, urging his fellow troops to follow him. He planted the flag in the sand at the base of the fort and held it upright until his near-lifeless body was rescued. Carney lost a lot of blood and nearly lost his life, but not once did he allow the flag to touch the ground. For his bravery, Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor on May 23, 1900.

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart,
and dedicate this Pledge of Allegiance to inspirational African-American defenders of American freedom, like Sergeant Carney.

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.