pre-Pledge Tribute

*** NOTE FROM CHIEF STEWARD ***
Beginning on May 28, 2018, there will NOT be any Pre-Pledge Tributes offered for the next 2 to 3 weeks.
We'll make one available for Flag Day on June 14th.
In the meantime, you're welcome to scroll below to see what our Pre-Pledge Tributes are composed of and look under "Awakens Our Flag" in the menu to review other past PPTs (Pre-Pledge Tributes). Thanks for your patience, consideration, and support of our nonprofit program.
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[ 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
Flag Steward Pre-Pledge Tribute
[ for the week of May 20 - 26 ]

Today's Flag Status
Our Flag flies at full staff across the USA, except in Massachusetts, Maryland, and North Carolina.

Massachusetts has ordered the US Flag and State Flag be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Friday, May 25, 2018, the date of interment, in honor of USMC Private First Class Francis E. Drake, Jr., (KIA, Guadalcanal, 1942) originally of Springfield, Massachusetts. Remains of PFC Drake, who was killed on 9 October 1942, during the Third Battle of the Matanikau, will be laid to rest at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Agawam, MA on this day.
In North Carolina, all United States and North Carolina flags to half-staff until sunset on May 25, 2018 in honor of Surry County State Highway Patrol Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard who died in the line of duty on Monday.
In Maryland , Governor Larry Hogan ordered the United States Flag an Maryland State Flag be lowered to half-staff effective immediately and returned to full-staff at sunset on the day of interment, May 25th. This action is in honor of Police Officer First Class Amy Caprio of the Baltimore County Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on May 21, 2018
[ CLICK for more info on the half-staff honorees - courtesy of FlagNotify.com) ]

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

Let us take a moment and pay tribute to the Santa Fe HS shooting victims

The 10 people shot and killed were:
[Hold picture up]
from top to bottom, left to right: Jared Conrad Black (age 17), Shana Fisher (age 16), Christian Riley Garcia (age 15), Aaron Kyle McLeod (age 15), Glenda Perkins (a substitute teacher).
Angelique Ramirez, Sabika Sheikh (an exchange student from Pakistan), Christopher Jake Stone (age 17), Cynthia Tisdale ( a teacher nearing retirement), and Kimberly Vaughan.
Please, pray for these victims and their family and friends in mourning.

While our Nation continues to try and figure out a solution to these horrible acts, the best thing students can do is look out for each other, put away the phones at school, interact with each other directly, and help folks talk through problems rather than bottling them up to a boiling point.

In God We Trust.

[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart, and recite together, in a show of unity and hope, the Pledge of Allegiance.

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