pre-Pledge Tribute

[ Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of July 15 - 21 ]
[ 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")__.
Welcomes to this week's Pre-Pledge Tribute
powered by Flag Steward
[ for the week of July 15-21 ]

Today's Flag Status
[for July 21, 2018]
Our Flag flies at full staff across the USA, except in MO.

[ GO HERE for details about today's state half-staff honorees. ]

[ SPEAKER 2 - read blue text only ]
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOT TO HONOR:
[ Died in the line of duty during the week of July 8-14 ]

There was one US service member who died in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) last week. U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant James Grotjan, 26, of Waterford, CT, died in a non-combat related incident while serving with 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base in United Arab Emirates.
Pray for his wife, family, and friends in mourning.
[Note: Next week we will honor US Army SFC Celiz, who was KIA death in Afghanistan on 7/12, but it was delayed in being reported.]

Back on the homefront ...

[ National Peace Officers Memorial in Washington DC - photo source unknown ]

For the first time since the Flag Steward app officially launched last month, thankfully, we did not have any law enforcement officers who died in line of duty last week.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there have been 80 LEO LODDs (Law Enforcement Officer Line of Duty Deaths) so far this year
Please, pray for our fallen peace officers and their families in grief.

[To leave a message and review the most detailed account of these law enforcement officers' line of duty death, please visit the
Officer Down Memorial Page]
[This Fallen Peace Officers feature is powered by the:]

[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S HISTORICAL REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... showcases American Innovation, Leadership, and Will to Win ...

Buzz Aldrin with equipment for moon experiment [pic by Neil Armstrong - public domain image]

"The Eagle has landed."
[Statement by Armstrong alerting NASA Mission Control that the "Eagle" lunar module had landed safely on the surface of the moon.]
During this week, on July 16th of 1969, Apollo 11 blasted off and on July 20th, it successfully landed on the moon. America had won this phase of the 'Space Race' against the Soviets. Astronaut Neil Armstrong then became the first man to walk on the moon and famously proclaimed,

[Play the audio file below or read the statement below if the audio doesn't play.]
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Do you recall who were the other astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission?
In addition to Mission Commander Neil Armstrong, ...

... Buzz Aldrin (right) was pilot of the lunar module "Eagle", and Michael Collins piloted the Command module "Columbia"

[ Armstrong (left), Collins (center), and Aldrin (right)

via GIPHY

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart, and recite together the Pledge of Allegiance while appreciating America's space pioneers of Apollo 11.

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.