Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of March 31 to April 6

[ 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. ]

[ The Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of April 7 - 13, will be posted by 6pm MST on Monday ]

[ 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 31 - April 6

Flag Status for April 6th 
MAINE, COLORADO, & MARYLAND have its US & State Flags at HALF-STAFF across their State.
Additionally, there are 4 other area half-staffs within:
Rhode Island, Michigan, Kentucky, and US Forest Service

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

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

Thankfully, there were military personnel killed in Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zones last week.

And, back on the homefront, ...

[ Left to Right; Top to Bottom: Deputy Herrera, Trooper Jones-Story, and Trooper Ellis ]
... unfortunately, during this past week, 3 Peace Officers and 1 Firefighter died in the line of duty. They were Deputy Peter Herrera of El Paso County in Texas, Illinois State Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis, and forest firefighter Captain Daniel Laird of Lake Tahoe, California.

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:

[ Trench warfare headlined the World War I war strategy. But, this horrific war also introduced the world to airplane, tank, battleship, and machine gun fighting = public domain images ]

"... with liberty and justice for all" are the closing words of our Pledge. But, America doesn't let the Pledge and its ideals end at its own border.

During this week in U.S. history, after three years of being neutral and experiencing numerous innocent American merchant and cruise ships being sunk by German submarines, the United States entered World War I. On April 6, 1917, Congress voted to declare war against Germany. By war's end, more than 2 million Americans had served and more than 50,000 died in the name of liberty for Europe.

[ Aisne-Marne American (World War I) cemetery in France =public domain image ]

Now, please, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Place your hand upon your heart and be mindful of the American troops who fought in World War I.

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.