Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of April 6 - 13 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within

[ This week's Pre-Pledge Tribute, for 6/9-6/15, will posted by, end of day, Monday ]

[ 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 "class" or "Scout Troop" ]__.
Welcome to the Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of June 2 - 8

The U.S. Flag Status for June 9th
All Flags on California State Capitol, and across the State of Delaware, 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:

[ Normandy American Cemetery - Omaha Beach ]

Since this week is the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944, we will honor America's Fallen Soldiers from that invasion. So, our reguarly scheduled commemoration of recently fallen patriots, military and first responders, will be added to next week's honorees.

At the Normandy American Cemetery next to Omaha Beach, where the invasion had the most soldier's killed in action while fighting ashore, 9,388 American troops are buried. Another 1,557 American soldiers are listed on the Wall of the Missing - whose remains were never found or identified. These brave American soldiers paid the ultimate price to defend our freedoms and liberate the lives of Europeans oppressed by Hitler's rule.

[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S HISTORICAL REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... recalls D-Day on its 75th anniversary ...

[ American soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, aka the Big Red 1, wade ashore to Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 ]

During this week, on June 6th of 1944, Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day, began with more than 6,000 naval vessels carrying more than 176,000 troops leaving England and landing on the shores of France at 5 different places known as Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach. These beaches, and the cliffs overlooking them, were well defended by the German Army, so the Allied troops suffered tremendous losses - more than 10,000 wounded and killed that day. Despite the tough German defenses and heavy casualties, the Allied and American troops will to win overcame all these obstacles and successfully broke through the German defenses. Thankfully, this well-planned, courageous invasion marked the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany and World War II.

[ A week after the D-Day invasion, supply ships push more American war equipment and troops ashore for the heavy fighting versus Germany ahead ]

Now, please, stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Place your hand upon your heart and recall America's D-Day heroes and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.

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.