Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of September 1 - 7 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within

This week's (Sep. 8-14) Pre-Pledge Tribute will be posted by 12pEST on Monday, September 9

[ Note: We recommend 3 student-speakers lead and read aloud the 3 parts of the pre-Pledge ceremony. Do not read aloud any text with [ brackets ] around it. ONLY READ THE TEXT IN BLUE. ]

[ 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 September 1st - 7th

Half-Staff Alerts for September 8
The U.S. Flag is FULL STAFF across 49 of 50 States.
In CALIFORNIA, is a local (Santa Cruz Cty) all flags half-staff.

[ GO HERE to review details about the half-staffs and their honorees - including portraits ]

[ SPEAKER 2 - read blue text only ]

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... "Happy 127th Birthday, Pledge of Allegiance" ...

[ a schoolhouse in the 1880s performing the Pledge of Allegiance along with the 'Bellamy Salute' at the end = public domain image ]

During this week in American history, on September 8, 1892, as part of a planned tribute to the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America, a youth magazine published Francis Bellamy's "Pledge" - which he hoped would inspire patriotism and unity among school children.
It originally stated: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

At the National Flag Conference in 1923, the Pledge was altered to say, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America ..." instead of "my Flag."

Then in 1942, Congress approved and formally adopted the Pledge as an official US Flag ceremony. Congress also requested putting the right hand over the heart while reciting it because the original, current 'Bellamy / Pledge Salute' of the 1890s now looked too much like the Nazi salute.

And, finally, on Flag Day in 1954, President Eisenhower asked for and Congress approved the addition of "under God" to the Pledge.
So, the Pledge of Allegiance version we state today, was established in 1954 - 65 years ago.

[ good cartoon explanation of the history of the Pledge of Allegiance is below ]

[ SPEAKER 3 - read blue text only ]
THIS WEEK'S FALLEN PATRIOTS TO HONOR:

Unfortunately, there was one soldier killed while fighting in a Global War on Terror (GWOT) combat zone recently - US Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Dustin Ard, of Hyde Park, Utah. SFC Ard, serving with 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, died Aug. 29, 2019, from combat wounds sustained while fighting in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and an unborn child.
[ GO HERE to learn more about SFC Ard ]

And, back on the homefront ...

Sadly, there were 9 peace officer line-of-duty deaths reported recently - 6 occurred this past week and 3 happened within the past 2 months and were finally announced. The 6 recently fallen officers include (pictured from left-right & top-bottom): Detective Biello of Georgia, Illinois State Trooper Hopkins, Deputy Blancarte of Texas, Deputy Cammon of California, Texas State Trooper Sanchez, and Deputy Voyles of Mississippi. Additionally, 3 officers were reported by New York authorities as line of duty deaths from 9/11-related cancers - NYPD Officer Harris, NYPD Detective Cranston, and Port Authority of NY & NJ Lieutenant Jones.
There were no firefighter line of duty deaths reported in the past week.

Please, pray for all of these fallen patriots and their family and friends in mourning.

[ To review details of these first responder LODDs (Line of Duty Deaths), please visit the
Officer Down Memorial Page and Firehouse.com LODDs page ]

Now, please, stand, place your hand upon your heart, and make this Pledge of Allegiance more meaningful, by honoring Our Flag and all the inspiring stories it tells - like that of the history of our Pledge of Allegiance.

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.