COLOR BEARER- (flag bearer) – the person who carries the flag. There is one color bearer for each flag in the ceremony.

COLOR GUARD- a team that guards the flags. Any even number of guards may be used.

GIRL SCOUT IN CHARGE- designated Girl Scout who announces or calls each part of the ceremony.

STANDARS- the stands that support the flags. The color bearer places the flags in their standards.

SALUTE THE FLAG or HONOR YOUR FLAG- Stand at attention and place your right hand over your heart. Salute the flag whenever it is being RAISED or LOWERED, when it passes you in a parade, when you recite the "Pledge of Allegiance" or sing the "Star Spangled Banner". Headcover is removed

STANDING AT ATTENTION- standing straight with arms held at sides.

RAISING THE FLAG- placing the flag in the stands or hoisting it up the flagpole.

• Emphasis should be on respect for the flag.
• There is absolute silence from the time the horseshoe is formed until it is dismissed.
• The color guard remains silent form the time they start to walk in until they walk out.
• The color guard does not sing with the group, but stay at attention.
• The ceremony is for the flag, so it should be in position during it. The ceremony takes place after the flag has been raised.
• If the flag ceremony is part of another ceremony the color guard should be dismissed.

• The American Flag should be placed in the center, and higher when displayed with a group of state, local or organizational flags flown from staffs.
• When flown from a staff on a speaker’s platform, the flag should be placed on the speaker’s right. If placed elsewhere than on the platform, it should be to the right of the audience as they face the platform.
• The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly with dignity.
• The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it , nor should it ever be carried flat or horizontally, always aloft and free
• Never use the flag as a cover or place anything on top of it.
• When carried in a procession the flag should be on the marching right or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.

1. The group forms a horseshoe. The color guard is in position. All stand at attention.
2. The Girl Scout –in charge says " color guard advance." This signals the color guard to advance to the flags, salute the American flag, and pick up the flags. They then turn together and get in position facing the group. Everyone stands at attention.
3. The color guard walks forward carrying the flags to the formation. They stop in front of the standards.
4. The Girl Scout –in-charge says "color guard, post the colors." This signals the color bearers to place the flags in their stands. They remain at attention next to the flags.
5. The Girl Scout-in-charge says " Girl Scouts, honor the flag of your country." The group salutes the American flag.
6. The Girl Scout-in-charge says " Girl Scouts, recite the Pledge of Allegiance." Songs, poems or verses may follow this.

If the flag ceremony is part of a larger ceremony, the Girl Scout-in-charge dismisses the color guard and the main ceremony takes place.

Following the ceremony, the Girl Scout-in-charge commands the color guard to retire the colors and take them to their place of storage.

1. "Girl Scouts, attention."
2. " Color guard advance."
3. " Color guard, honor your flag."
4. " Color guard, retire the colors."
5. " Color Guard, dismissed."
6. " Girl Scouts, dismissed."