Tiger Battalion LET Manual - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Retreats and Reveilles

Retreat is a ceremony in which the unit honors the U.S. flag when it is lowered in the evening. This ceremony is conducted at the direction of the unit commanders. The installation commander sets the time for sounding retreat. Reveille is a ceremony in which a unit honors the U.S. flag as it is raised in the morning. This ceremony is conducted at the direction of the commander. The installation commander sets the time for sounding reveille. (See appendix I for more information on raising the flag.)

Section 1

Retreat

13-1. The term “retreat” is taken from the French word “retraite” and refers to the evening ceremony. The bugle call sounded at retreat was first used in the French army and dates to the Crusades. Retreat was sounded at sunset to notify sentries to start challenging until sunrise, and to tell the rank and file to go to their quarters. The ceremony remains as a tradition. The old Cavalry call “To the Standard,” in use from about 1835, has been replaced by the present call of “To the Color.” This remains as music honoring the flag as it is lowered in the evening.

Section 1 - Retreat

Section 2

Reveille

13-5. Reveille was not originally intended as honors to the flag. In 1812, it was a drum call to signify that Soldiers should rise for day duty and sentries should leave off night challenging. As time passed, reveille came to denote when the flag was raised in the morning and honors paid to it.

Section 2 - Reveille

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