Display, Customs and Care of the American Flag

    The U.S. Flag ALWAYS occupies a position of honor.

        Carried in a procession:

        When displayed, the U.S. Flag:
        The U.S. Flag flies (is being held or on the flagpole) longer than other flags.

    The spoken or sung portion of the ceremony takes place while the flag is flying.

      1. Indoors, after the flag has been "posted" in the stand.
      2. Outdoors, while the flag is flying from the pole
      3. If the Pledge of Allegiance is to be said, it should be done before other pledges and/or promises (i.e., the Girl Scout Promise)

    The National Flag should be raised and lowered by hand.

      1. Do not raise the Flag while it is furled (folded)
      2. Unfurl, then hoist quickly and smoothly to the top of the pole
      3. Lower it slowly, and with dignity

    Flying the Flag at half mast

      1. Raise the Flag quickly to the top of the pole, then lower it slowly to the half mast position.
      2. When retrieving the flag, before lowering the flag, raise it quickly to the top of the pole and then proceed to lower slowly with dignity.

    Saluting (placing hand over the heart) the Flag

      1. The moment the Flag passes in front of you
      2. From the moment the first grommet is attached on the flagpole, until the Flag has reached the top.
      3. From the moment the Flag starts to be lowered from the flagpole, until both grommets are in the hands of the Flag Bearer.
      4. The Color Guard may salute only after immediately raising/posting or retrieving the Flag.

    The Flag should only be displayed from sunrise to sunset, unless it is illuminated.

    Only an All Weather Flag should be flown when it is raining.

    REMINDERS:

      1. The Flag should never be displayed with the Union (blue field) down, except as a signal of dire distress.
      2. Do not use the Flag as a portion of a costume, clothing, handkerchief, or other decorative item.
      3. Take every precaution to prevent the Flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground, nor to brush against objects.
      4. A flag that has become soiled may be washed according to the care instructions for that particular type of material.
      5. A flag that has become tattered or worn should be destroyed by a dignified method, preferably by burning.

    A complete Flag Code, Public Law 829-77th Congress, is available from the United States Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. Important excerpts from the code are available in a booklet available from your local American Legion.

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    The Proper Method of Folding the Flag

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    The Color Guard of Honor

    The purpose of the Color Guard of Honor is to protect the flag. Because this requires full attention, the members do not participate in any part of the flag ceremony (singing, speaking, etc.), but stand silently "At Attention"

    The Color Guard may consist of any number. Ideally there should be at least two Color Guards for each flag. The minimum is one Color (Flag) Bearer and one Color Guard

    Color (or Flag) Bearer - One per flag, if more than one flag is present. Hold staff (pole) at 30°angle in front of body, or hold folded flag (with point away from body) in front of body at waist level. May wear red sash over right shoulder, tied in a square knot on left side of waist. Is responsible for putting flag in, or taking flag from, stand, or raising/lowering flag from flagpole.

    Color Guards - Stand on each side of the Color Bearer. Watch to see that the flag does not touch the ground. May wear red sash around waist tied in a square knot on left side. One or more members may assist flag bearer in posting/retrieving the flag from the stand/pole.

    Caller - Only member of Color Guard to speak. Gives directions to audience and commands to Color Guard. May wear red sash, same as Color Guard.

    Line Leaders - Usually part of an outdoor Color Guard. Lead the audience into/out of the desired formation (usually a horseshoe in Girl Scouts).

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    Basic Flag Ceremony Commands

    Opening Flag Ceremony (Outdoors: Colors)

    "Would you all please stand for the presentation of the flag" - If you have an "audience", such as at an Investiture/Rededication Ceremony (parents, invited guests, etc.), this is the signal that the ceremony is about to start.

    "Girl Scouts (or Horseshoe) Attention" - This is the signal that the girls should be ready to start.

    "Color Guard Attention" - If the Color Guard has been standing "At Ease", it comes to "Attention". It is also a signal to be ready to start.

    "Color Guard Advance" (indoors) - The Color Guard carries the flag(s) toward the front of the room and stands in front of the flag stands. (outdoors) The Color Guard carries the flag to the flagpole.

    "Color Guard, Post the Colors" - (indoors) The Color Guard places the flags in the stands, the American Flag last. (outdoors) The Flag Bearer attaches the flag to the rope and quickly hoists the flag, the American flag is raised first.

    "Color Guard, Honor your Colors" - The Color Guard salutes the Flag and then returns to "Attention"

    The Pledge of Allegiance, songs, poems, Girl Scout Promise, are done now. "Would you all please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance"

    "Color Guard Dismissed" - The Color Guard walks to the back of the room, or away from the flag pole.

    Closing Flag Ceremony (Outdoors: Retreat)

    "Would you all please stand for the retrieval of the flag" - If you have an "audience", such as at an Investiture/Rededication Ceremony (parents, invited guests, etc.), this is the signal that the ceremony is about to start.

    "Girl Scouts (or Horseshoe) Attention" - This i the signal that the girls should be ready to start.

    "Color Guard Attention" - If the Color Guard has been standing "At Ease", it comes to "Attention". It is also a signal to be ready to start.

    "Color Guard Approach" (indoors) - The Color Guard walks toward the front of the room and stands in front of the flag stands. (outdoors) The Color Guard walks to the flagpole.

    Singing Taps, poems, other songs, are done now, if desired. "Would you all please join me in the singing of Taps"

    "Color Guard, Honor your Colors" - The Color Guard salutes the Flag and then returns to "Attention"

    "Color Guard, Retrieve the Colors" - (indoors) The Color Guard removes the flags from the stands, the American Flag first. (outdoors) The Flag Bearer lowers the flag slowly and with dignity. The Color Bearers fold the flag.

    "Color Guard Dismissed" - The Color Guard carries the flag to the back of the room, or carries the folded flag to an appropriate place.

    REMINDER: Other than saluting the flag immediately after posting , or before retrieving, the Color Guard remains at attention. They do not take place in any singing or speaking.

    In a troop setting, you may just wish to say the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise while the flags remain in the stands. This is perfectly acceptable.

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    Flashlight Flag Ceremony

    Equipment/People Needed:
    Narrator (one, or more if your troop is large)
    Four Flashlight Bearers (candles may be substituted)
    Flag Bearer and Color Guard(s)

    Color Guard advances with Flag and posts Colors. Lights are turned out so that the room is in total darkness. Flashlight bearers turn on flashlights (or light candles) and direct light toward flag.

    NARRATOR: What you see here tonight represents the past, present, and future. The stripes of Old Glory stand for the original thirteen colonies. The stars represent the present 50 states. The light and warmth of the four lights you see shining remind us of the four great freedoms - Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion.
    Eliminate any one of these freedoms and our world would become darker and colder.

    Narrator calls out the four freedoms slowly. As each is called a flashlight is turned off until the room is again in total darkness.

    Freedom of the Press
    Freedom of Assembly
    Freedom of Speech
    Freedom of Religion

    NARRATOR: In this world of potential cold and darkness, of rule by a few, stands the United States of America. Here the Four Freedoms do exist and are an example of warmth and light for all. Will you please join us in the salute to our flag? (Turn flashlights back on and direct light toward flag)

    All join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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    Explanation of the Pledge Ceremony

    We often recite the Pledge of Allegiance without really listening to or understanding the meaning of the words we are saying. You can have each girl recite a portion, then the explanation. You can also have the girls put the meaning into their own words.

    I - Me, an individual, a committee of one
    Pledge - Dedicate all of my worldly possessions to give without self pity
    Allegiance - My love and devotion
    To the Flag - Our standard - Old Glory - a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves there is respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts "Freedom is everybody's job!"
    Of the United - United - that means we have all come together
    States Of America - States - individual communities that have united into fifty great states - fifty individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united in a common purpose - love for country.
    And to the Republic - Republic, a state in which power in given to representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
    For Which it Stands - This is what our Flag stands for - Our United States
    One Nation Under God - meaning so blessed by God
    Indivisible - Incapable of being divided
    With Liberty - Which is freedom - the right to live one's own life without threats or fear of retaliation.
    And Justice - The principle or qualities of dealing fairly with others.
    For All - For all - which means, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, it's as much your country as it is mine.

    - adapted from a recording by Red Skelton

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    Flag Burning Ceremony

    When the U.S. Flag becomes tattered or worn, it should be disposed of by burning

    Here are the basics for a Flag burning ceremony. Appropriate songs and/or readings may be added.

    1. Lower the flag from the pole (or remove it from the staff) and carry it to the fire site.
    2. Place the stars (as the audience sees them) in the upper left hand corner. This is an appropriate reading to start the ceremony:

    "Remember as you look at the Flag, it is the symbol of our nation, it is red because of human sacrifice; blue because of the true blue loyalty of its defenders; and white symbolizes liberty - our land of the free. The stars are symbols of the united efforts and hope in the hearts of the many people striving to keep America great."

    1. Cut the field of blue from the stripes - have someone hold onto this piece.
    2. Next, cut each stripe from the "whole" and lay each piece, one at a time, across the flames.

      These are some ideas for appropriate readings for each stripe:

    First Stripe - "The thirteen stripes stand for the thirteen original colonies which are: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island."

    Second Stripe - "The white stands for purity"

    Third Stripe - "The red stands for courage"

    Fourth Stripe - "Give me liberty or give me death"

    Fifth Stripe - "One if by land, two if by sea"

    Sixth Stripe - "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution on the United States of America."

    Seventh Stripe - "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

    Eighth Stripe - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

    Ninth Stripe - "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or press."

    Tenth Stripe - "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

    Eleventh Stripe - "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

    Twelfth Stripe - "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

    Thirteenth Stripe - "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

    1. After all the stripes have been burned, the field of blue is laid on the fire - all are silent until the entire piece burns to ash.
    2. Out of respect, nothing should ever be added to the ceremonial fire after the Flag has been burned.
    3. The ceremony ends with everyone departing in silence.
    4. After the ashes have cooled, they should be buried.

    Please remember, this is a very solemn ceremony and should be done with the utmost respect and reverence for the flag to be retired.

    It might also be noted that you need to explain this ceremony thoroughly to the girls so that they don't go home and tell their parents that they "burned a flag at Girl Scouts".

    Another Flag burning ceremony is in the "Ceremonies in Girl Scouting" book, ref pg 18.