This Week's Pre-Pledge Lesson

[Note: Before starting this ceremony, CLICK TO CHECK 'TODAY'S FLAG STATUS'. If your state is at half-staff, memorize the honoree's name and job/position, so you can say it within today's pre-Anthem ceremony script below. We recommend that you read aloud, in the best performance voice you have, all the ceremony text with 2 exceptions: 1) do not read caption text below pictures, and 2) do not read any text with [brackets] around it.]

Good morning, ___(insert name of location - like "Heritage Elementary")___
Welcome to this week's
Beacon of Honor
Pre-Pledge Lesson
[for the week of August 27 to Septemer 2, 2017]

[Note: You're welcome to play 'My Country 'Tis of Thee', performed by the U.S. Army Field Band, in the background to enhance today's ceremony experience]

The 'Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag' ... to Inform and Inspire Citizens about ...

TODAY'S FLAG STATUS:

In our state, the Stars and Stripes files at ___(say "full" or "half")___ staff today.
[End it here or read the following sentence if there is a half-staff in your state today]
[Optional - only say if your state is at half-staff today:]
The half-staff in our state is to honor ___(say full name of honoree)___ who served as a ___(say public servant job / position - such as firefighter, state rep, police officer, etc.)___ for our state.

THIS WEEK'S REMINDER FROM OUR FLAG:
... I have a dream ... that all men are created equal ...

Martin Luther King Jr. in front of the Lincoln Memorial giving his famous "I have a dream" speech [public domain image]

During this week in American history, on August 28, 1963, to be exact, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr gave his emotional "I have a dream" speech to more than 100,000 demonstrators. His speech, and the many Americans' actions motivated by it, helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - which outlawed discrimination (being unfair) to folks based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. We're still working to ensure this and other equality laws are being followed today.
Let's listen to portions of his historic speech.

[ View of the crowd gathered to listen to MLK Jr's speech from front of the Lincoln Memorial = public domain image ]

via GIPHY

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 Martin Luther King Jr. and his pursuit of equality.

Thanks for participating in today's Beacon of Honor - Awakens Our Flag
Pre-Pledge Ceremony
Now, go be a good citizen!!!

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END OF CEREMONY
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[Cover of U.S. Government Publication]

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.

Content Sources & Credits:
Sources: Click here to see our Sources for content research
Credits: Unless otherwise noted here, photos displayed each day are public domain images, pictures by Sean Sweeney, or used by permission.

To learn more about the Beacon of Honor nonprofit project, go to http://BeaconOfHonor.org
SF