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Outdoor
Flag Ceremony
Colors and Retreat: When the flag is
raised in the morning, it is spoken of as "Colors." When
the flag is lowered at the end of the day it is called
"Retreat."
Color Bearer: The red sash, if worn, goes
over the right shoulder and is tied with a square knot
over the left hip.
Color Guard: Red sashes, if worn, are tied
around the waist on the left side. There are generally
four guards, but there may be two, six or eight.
Formation: The group proceeds in single
file and forms a horseshoe around the flagpole and
stands at attention. Color Guard (bearer and guards)
then advance with the Color Bearer preceding the guards,
who follow immediately behind in twos. They take
position in front of the flagpole and stand at attention
facing the pole during the entire ceremony.
Silence: There is absolute silence from
the time the group moves forward until it returns to the
starting point. The Color Guard is the "Official
Guardian" of the flag and does not sing or speak.
Ceremony: The ceremony takes place after the
flag has been raised or before it is lowered. The
ceremony itself varies but often consists of the Pledge
of Allegiance, the Promise and Law, patriotic or nature
poetry, and songs.
Salute: The salute for Girl Scouts is the
hand over heart, civilian salute. The group gives full
salute at Colors from the moment the flag starts upward
holding salute until it reaches the top. At retreat, the
full salute begins the moment the flag starts down. The
flag is lowered slowly, and the salute is held until it
arrives at the bottom and is in the hands of the Color
Bearer.
Raising / Lowering: The clasps on the rope
should be the same distance apart as the eyelets in the
flag. All clasps should be fastened on the flag before
it is started upward. At Colors, one guard may hold the
flag as the Color Bearer attaches it to the rope before
raising it briskly to the top. At Retreat, the first two
Color Guards may step forward to catch the flag as it is
lowered so that is does not touch the ground. The upper
corner of the flag should be in the Color Bearer's hands
before she unfastens the clasps.
Folding: The flag is held by the Color Guard
with the blue field nearest the flagpole. It is folded
lengthwise in half, then again lengthwise in half,
folding the blue field underneath toward the outside.
The last couple (farthest away from the pole) begin
folding the flag in a triangle. They fold until they can
pass it on to other members of the Color Guard. This
continues until the flag is in a triangle.
Placing Folded Flag: The Color Guard resumes its
original position. One member of the first couple steps
up in front of the Color Bearer with the folded flag.
She places it in the bearer's outstretched hands, so
that it can be carried point forward, then returns to
position.
Return: After the ceremony one of the ways
the Color Guard may retire is as follows:
The Color Bearer does a right-about face. At the
same time two of the guards turn left and face in, the
other two turn right and face in. The bearer walks
forward between the lines; the first two guards follow.
The color Bearer leaves the field ahead of the others in
formation, and the campers fall in behind.
Commands:
Present the Colors:
Company, attention.
Color Guard, attention.
Color Guard, advance.
Color Guard, present the Colors.
Girl Scouts, the flag of your country. Pledge
Allegiance.
(Poem or song)
Color Guard, dismissed.
(Color
Guard steps back one step and salutes the flag with
their hands over her hearts before retreating.)
Company, dismissed.
Retreat:
Company, attention.
Color Guard, advance.
(Poem may be read here followed by "Taps") or
Color Guard, retire the colors.
(Color
guards salute the flag and step forward)
(Flag is lowered and folded)
Color Guard, dismissed.
Company, dismissed.
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