Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of April 6 - 13 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag (half-staff alerts)

[ 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 April 21 - 27

The U.S. Flag Status for April 28th 
The US & State Flags ACROSS Maryland are half-staff.

[ 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 2 military personnel who died in Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zones last week. US Air Force Staff Sergeant Albert Miller, a C-17 aircraft crew chief, at Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar, and US Army Specialist Ryan Riley, an artilleryman, in Ninawa Province, Iraq, died of non-combat related injuries.

And, back on the homefront, ...

[ top & bottom: Cowlitz County, Washington Sheriff's Deputy Justin DeRosier and Volunteer firefighters Jack Leming in New Jersey (no picture found yet) and Dwain Hudson of South Dakota ]

... unfortunately, two volunteer firefighters died while on duty last week - Jack Leming in New Jersey and Dwain Hudson in South Dakota.
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:

[ Samantha Smith holds letter written to Russian leader Yuri Andropov = image from YouTube video story ]

Over the years, America's relationship with Russia has had many ups and downs. During this week in 1983, when Cold War tensions were very high between Russia and USA, an American fifth-grader's letter to Russian leaders became famous. Russian leader Yuri Andropov answered Samantha Smith's questions about her Cold War nuclear weapon concerns. In his letter back to Samantha, the Soviet leader stated that after the horrible losses of life during World War II, Russian people want to "live in peace, to trade, and cooperate with all their neighbors on the globe, and certainly with such a great country as the United States of America." He also said he was, "doing everything he could to ensure no war between our two countries." He invited Samantha to visit Russia - which she did in the summer of 1983.

So students, never think that you can't make a big impact in this world. Samantha Smith, a 5th-grader from Maine, proved you can - as she started to change the Cold War outlook between Russia and USA.

[ Samantha Smith touring the Soviet Union (in center holding a bag) with a group of Russian students on July 1, 1983 = public domain image ]

Now, please, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Place your hand upon your heart and know that you, like Samantha Smith, can make a positive impact on this world.

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.