Please remember these points of U.S. Flag etiquette:
Ø The American flag is always displayed to its own right.
Ø When posting flags in stands: the American flag is always the last one posted during an opening ceremony (to the speaker’s right) and the first flag lifted during a closing ceremony.
Ø The American flag should not be carried flat or horizontally, should not touch anything below it, should not have anything placed on or above it, should not be used to cover anything, and should be kept clean.
Ø Try not to let the flags touch the ground and they are never to be played with!
Ø Color guard: Hands are at sides, not in pockets. No talking, gum chewing, or goofing off. Scouts may keep on any official BSA headwear.
Ø If a Scout is holding any flag, he does not salute or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ø If the American flag is not posted until after the Pledge of Allegiance, none of the flag bearers/color guard recites the Pledge of Allegiance (the Commander does).
Ø Flag bearers/color guard (not the Commander) salute the flag together after the American flag is posted.
Now to begin…
Ø The Scouts need to be in 2 single file lines, one arm’s length behind the Scout in front, and shoulder to shoulder with the Scout next to them.
Ø Scouts begin with their left foot.
Ø The 1st Scout on the right, as he faces forward, carries the American flag.
Ø The 1st Scouts on the left carries the pack flag.
Ø When walking forward, the American flag is carried 1 pace ahead of the pack flag.
Ø The Commander stands facing audience and the color guard stands at the rear of the room facing the Commander.
Ø No non BSA hats are ever to be worn with the BSA uniform.
Two flag OPENING ceremony: American flag and Pack flag”
1. Commander: “Color guard, attention!”
Flag Bearers lift flag poles up. Color guard prepares to walk forward.
U.S. Flag is on the right side and 1 pace ahead of the pack flag.
2. Commander: “Audience, please rise!”
Wait a moment for everyone to stand and be quiet.
3. Commander: “Scout salute!” All others, please prepare yourself for the Pledge of Allegiance”.
4. Commander: “Color guard, advance!”
Scouts walk forward in 2 single file lines. American flag remains on the right. All scouts keep pace w/one another except the American flag bearer/guard, who are 1 pace ahead of pack flag.
5. Commander: “Color guard, halt!”
All flag bearers stop before the flag stands, evenly lined up, guards behind.
6. Commander: “Please cross the colors”
The scout/guards with the American flag cross to the left stand, turn and face the audience while the scout/guard with the pack flag cross (walking between the American flag bearers and the commander) to the right stand and stop in front of/facing the stand.
7. Commander: “Color guard, post the flag of Pack 276.
The pack flag bearer and their color guard post the pack flag, then turn and face the
American flag, standing shoulder to shoulder and they do not salute yet or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
8. Commander: “Color guard, prepare to present the colors.”
The American flag color guard moves into position to snap open the flag.
9. Commander: “Color Guard, present the colors.”
10. Commander: “Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance”
Commander says loud and clearly “I pledge allegiance…”
Color Guard remains quiet and facing the American flag and does not salute yet or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
11. Commander: “Color guard, post the flag of the United
States of America!”
The American flag bearer turns and puts the American flag in its base, and the bearer and guard face the American flag.
12. Commander; “Color guard salute”.
All flag bearers & color guard face American flag and salute, Commander does not salute.
13. Commander: “TWO!” Everyone drops salute.
14. Commander: “Color guard regroup”
Scouts quietly and form two single file lines that face the exit area.
15. Commander: “Color Guard dismissed”.
Color guard walks in pace in 3 lines to the back of the room until a scout in the group says “Halt”.
16. Commander: “Scouts, at ease”.
Color guard quietly leaves the area and returns to seating with other scouts.
17. Commander: "Everyone please be seated" OR "Everyone please remain standing and prepare yourself in the manner that is your custom for reverence." (Prayer)
Two flag CLOSING ceremony: American and Pack flag
1. Commander: “Color guard, attention!”
2. Commander: “Audience, please rise!”
Wait for everyone to stand.
3. Commander: “Color guard, forward march!”
Color guard is at the back of room in two lines, facing the Commander. Wait for color guard to reach the front before saying the next command.
4. Commander: “Color guard, halt!”
5. Commander: “Scout Salute! Please put your right hand over your heart if you are not in uniform.”
6. Commander: “Color guard, retrieve the colors!”
The flag bearer and 1 color guard in the front of each line walk to the corresponding flag stand. The remaining scouts stay in position in their lines. The American Flag is retrieved and lifted from the stand 1st by the flag bearer. The American flag bearer and guards face the audience and walk to the front of the line to their right. (The American flag remains on the scout’s right side as the scout faces the back of the room). The pack flag is retrieved by the flag bearer and color guard; they face the audience and walk to the front of their line on the left, staying 1 pace behind the American flag.
7. Commander: “Color guard, forward march!”
American flag bearer and color guard walk 1 pace ahead of the state flag. Wait until color guard reaches back of room before giving the next command.
8. Predetermined Scout in the color guard: “Halt!”
9. Commander: “TWO!” (Everyone drops salute.)
10. Commander: “Color guard, dismissed!” The flag bearers should immediately and properly put the flags away.
11. Commander: “Thank you for joining us tonight Pack 276 families and friends, please help us clean up and put away chairs, Thank you have a safe journey home”.