Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of September 22 - 28 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within

The Pre-Pledge Tribute, for the week of Sep. 30 - Oct 5, will be published by 10pm MST ... my apologies for its tardiness ;)

[ Note: We recommend 3 student-speakers lead and read aloud the 3 parts of the pre-Pledge ceremony. And, assign 1 student to handle the ceremony tech - showing with a laptop or mobile device the ceremony on a screen. Select the 4 presenting students on Monday or Tuesday and have them practice the Pre-PLedge Tribute so on Friday they can give a good, clear, loud ceremony for their classmates ;) 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" or "Rotary Club")__.
Welcome to the Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of September 22nd - 28th

Half-Staff Alerts for September 29
The U.S. Flag is FULL STAFF across 43 of the 50 states
US & STATE FLAGS across MINNESOTA and WISCONSIN are half-staff
All Flags atop the ALABAMA State Capitol and across its 1st Congressional District are half-staff
And, there are local half-staff orders in Tomball, TX, Jefferson County, IN, Superior, AZ, and Greenbrier, TN

[ 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:
... the final battle of the American Revolutionary War ...

[ General George Washington fires the first cannon shot at Battle of Yorktown = public domain image ]

During this week in American history, on September 28, in 1781, the Battle of Yorktown began at Yorktown, VA. At this important battle, American and French troops joined forces to fight the British Army. This fight turned out to be the last major clash of the Revolutionary War. A few weeks into this battle, on October 19, British General Cornwallis surrendered the British army to General George Washington - our leader of the Continental Army.

[ John Turnbull's painting of the British Army surrendering to Washington's Continental Army at Yorktown, VA ]

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

Sadly, there was one Army Special Forces soldier killed in action, while serving in the Global War on Terror (GWOT), this past week. Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jeremy Griffin, 41 of Greenbrier, Tennessee, was killed in action (KIA) while fighting in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife and son.

[ GO HERE to learn more about SFC Griffin ]

And, back on the homefront ...

There were two peace officers and one firefighter killed in the line-of-duty this past week. New York Police Departement (NYPD) Detective Joseph Paolillo died of a 9/11 work-related cancer, Tuscaloosa Police Investigator Dornell Cousette, of Alabama, was shot and killed while serving a warrant, and Farmington Fire Chief Michael Bell, of Maine, was killed by a propane explosion (and 6 others were injured) when called to inspect a building.

Please, remember all of these fallen patriots and their family and friends who miss them dearly.

[ 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, 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 the Revolutionary War's last battle at Yorktown

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.