pre-Pledge Tribute

[ 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 the Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of March 10 - 16

Flag Status for March 17th 
Our Flag is full staff in 48 of 50 states.
The US & State Flags are HALF-STAFF in INDIANA & COLORADO

[ GO HERE to review details about half-staff honorees - including portraits ]

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

Sadly, there were two US Army Reserve soldiers killed in a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone last week. Sergeant Holli Bolinski, 37, of Pinckneyville, IL, and Specialist Jackson Johnson, 20, of Hillsboro, MO died in a non-combat related vehicle accident while on duty in Kuwait. They were soldiers of the 657th Transportation Company, 419th Transportation Battalion, 103rd Sustainment Command - an Army Reserve unit from Mt. Vernon, Illinois. SGT Bolinski is survived by a husband and 5 children.

And, back on the home front, ...

[ L to R from Top to Bottom: Officer Nathan Heidelberg; Deputy Jacob Keltner; Fire Captain Jacob Ringering ]

... unfortunately, during this past week, 2 Peace Officers and 1 Firefighter died in the Line of Duty.
Midland Police Officer Nathan Hayden Heidelberg in Texas and McHenry County Deputy Jacob Howard Keltner in Illinois were both shot and killed while responding to 911 calls. And, Godfrey Fire District Captain Jacob Ringering was killed while fighting a house fire.

Please, pray for all of these fallen Patriots and their family and friends in mourning.

[To review details of this year's first responder LODDs (Line of Duty Deaths), please visit the
Officer Down Memorial Page and Firehouse.com LODDs page]

[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S HISTORICAL REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:

[ Official White House portrait of Harry S. Truman by Greta Kempton = public domain image ]

During this week in US history, March 12 of 1947, to be exact, our 33rd President, Harry Truman, presented the Truman Doctrine to Congress. He stated, "it must be the policy of the United States to support free people..." Truman’s action plan called for America to stop the spread of Soviet Communism - to keep people in other countries free from total government control. Historians consider the Truman Doctrine speech as the beginning of the Cold War, which was an indirect battle between the Soviet Union and the United States and each of their allies from 1947 to 1991.
It's a good time, now, to recall America's standoff against the spread of harsh government rulers because we're in a similar, dangerous situation in our current relationships with North Korea, China, and Russia.

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart, and recite The Pledge of Allegiance together.

Thanks for participating in today's
Flag Steward Pre-Pledge Tribute
Now, go be a stud 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.