American Flag

Arapahoe District 
 Denver Area Council

Standard Flag Ceremony

BSA Flag


May I have your attention please!

Color guard advance!

Hand Salute!

Color guard halt!

Color guard, post the colors of the United States of America!

Please join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance!

Two!

Color guard, post the colors of the great state of Colorado!

Color guard, return to ranks! About face!

Color guard, Retreat!

Color guard, halt!

Color guard at ease!

Pack 662 at ease!


OPENING FLAG CEREMONY

May I have your attention please! (spoken to the audience)

Color guard, present the colors!  Or Color guard advance!
   
Remember that the US Flag is marched on the right but placed at the audience left (speaker's right).  

    As the Color guard is advancing, the individual giving the commands issues the next command, which is, Hand Salute! to the audience (the Color guard does NOT salute)

    The next command is Color guard halt!
   
The Color guard then stops near the flag stand and remains at attention
    Any flag, which is being carried with the US flag, is dropped slightly

The color guard is given the command: Color guard, post the colors of the United States of America!  The U.S. flag is raised first in a swift manner.  If there is no flag pole, then the U.S. flag is placed in its stand before any other flag.
If there is only 1 flag pole, then the U.S. flag is attached to the lanyard first followed by the State and pack/troop flag.  

The audience is then asked to please repeat the Pledge of Allegiance

The color guard is given the command:  Color guard, post the colors of the Great State of Colorado

At the conclusion of the Pledge, the command Two! is issued to the audience.  The salutes are dropped and the Color guard remains at attention.

The next command is, Color guard, return to ranks! The Color guard starts to the back of the room and is then commanded, Color Guard, halt! 

At this point, the Color guard is instructed, Color guard, about face!

The Color guard is then instructed, Color guard, at ease!  

The audience (Pack or Troop) is instructed: Pack 662 at ease!

Notes:
The Color guard should walk in pairs, a guard on the left of the US flag and then a second line with a guard on the left of the State flag or Pack flag.  In a single line, the order should be, guard, US Flag, state or pack flag, guard. 

This is not the only way for the Colors to be presented, however it is the most common.  More details about flag ceremonies and possible openings are available in the Den and Pack Ceremonies guide from the Boy Scouts of America.

CLOSING FLAG CEREMONY

Please rise for the retiring of the Colors

Color Guard advance!

Color Guard halt!

Color Guard, retrieve the Colors of the United States of America.  Hand Salute!

Color Guard, retrieve the flag of the Great State of Colorado.

Color Guard retreat!

Two!

Color Guard Halt!

Color Guard at ease.  Pack 662 at ease.