How to Do an Outdoor Flag Ceremony

Decide who participates. Choose a caller, a color bearer for each flag, and two to four color guards.

Choose a patriotic song or poem to sing or recite. It's appropriate, but not necessary.

Inspect the flag. If it’s in poor condition -- with holes, tears or stains -- retire it and find another to use. Your local Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts council can help.

Decide where to post the colors. The American flag should fly in the center, or to the right of any other flags, and should fly highest.

Place everyone in position with the flags. The caller stands near the flagpole or stand. The color guard stands in the rear of the area, forming a double line behind the U.S. flag bearer.

Say to the audience, "Please rise for the presentation of the colors."

Say, "Please remove any hats that are not part of a scout or military uniform."

Say (if it’s a Scout meeting), "Scout attention." This signals anyone in uniform to salute.

Say, "Color guard attention.”

Say, "Color guard, advance." The color guard should walk slowly to the flagpole or stand.

Say, "Color guard, post the colors." The color bearer raises the flag or places it in the stand.

Say, "Color Guard, honor your colors." The color guard salutes, or if not in uniform, they place their hands over their hearts.

Address the audience: "Please place your right hand over your heart and join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Say, "Two!" This is a traditional signal to lower your hands. If you want, say, "Please remain standing while (song or poem) is recited/sung."

Say (if it's a Scout meeting), "Please join me in reciting the Scout Promise/Oath."

Say, "Color guard dismissed." The color guard walks to the back of the area.

Say, "You may be seated."

Say, "Please rise for the retrieval of the colors."

Say (if it’s a scout meeting), "Scout attention."

Say, "Color guard attention.”

Say, "Color guard approach." The color guard walks to the flag area. Play a recorded or live version of "Taps" if you wish.

Say, "Color guard, honor your colors." The color guard salutes, or they place their hands over their hearts.

Say, "Color guard, retrieve the colors." The color bearers remove or lower the flags.

Say, "Color guard dismissed." The color guard carries the flags to a rest or storage area, ending the ceremony.