Pre-Pledge Tribute for week of September 8 - 14 - FLAG STEWARD - Caretaker of Our Flag & Heralder of the Stories, Lessons, & Virtues woven within

This week's (Sep. 15-21) Pre-Pledge Tribute will be posted by 12pEST on Monday, September 16

[ 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" or "Rotary Club")__.
Welcome to the Pre-Pledge Tribute for the week of September 8th - 14th

Half-Staff Alerts for September 14
The U.S. Flag is FULL STAFF across 48 of 50 States
All (US & State) Flags are half-staff across IDAHO & WASHINGTON from sunrise to sunset

[ 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:
... 'United We Stand' in ... the land of the free and the home of the brave ...

[ Francis Scott Key's poem about the Battle of Fort McHenry became our Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem) = public domain image ]

During this week in American history, we had two events that shaped how we act towards Our Flag - the flag of the United States of America.

On September 13 and 14, in 1814, Francis Scott Key, watched the British ships bomb Fort McHenry for 25 straight hours. He was amazed that the American soldiers and U.S. Flag inside the Fort were still standing after the British shelling. So, he wrote a poem called the Defense of Fort McHenry. The poem mentions "the perilous fight, the rocket's red glare, and the bombs bursting in air." Those lines sound like something you've heard or sung before - right? That's because the poem was later composed as a song and renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" - our "National Anthem."

Likewise, Our Flag was a source of inspiration after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The flag-raising, by three firefighters, atop the World Trade Center rubble (also known as Ground Zero) became a symbol and statement that in America - "United We Stand." United we stand to defend our freedoms and serve justice against terrorists.

[ "Old Glory" being raised on the World Trade Center flagpole ]

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

Unfortunately, there were two soldiers killed in the Global War on Terror recently - US Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Dustin Ard, of Hyde Park, Utah, and Sergeant First Class (SFC) Elis Barreto Ortiz of Morovis, Puerto Rico. Sergeant Dustin Ard, a Special Forces Green Beret from a base in Washington, died while fighting in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and an unborn child. Sergeant Barreto Ortiz, an 82nd Airborne paratrooper (meaning a soldier who parachutes out of planes), was killed by a terrorist car bomb near the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

[ GO HERE to learn more about SFC Ard and CLICK HERE to learn more about SFC Barreto Ortiz ]

And, back on the homefront ...

During this 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we remember the 412 First Responders who died that day trying to save fellow citizens.
And, across the USA this week, there was one firefigther who died in the line of duty. Austin Peck, a Goodyear, Arizona, firefighter died of a job-related cancer.
There were no peace officers killed in the line of duty this past week.

Please, remember 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, 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 when Americans stood up against terrorism after 9/11 and said "United We Stand."

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.