Flag Retirement Ceremony

at

Crowville First Baptist Church Youth Center

on

October 19, 2002




Flag Retirement Ceremony

The flag retirement ceremony can be done in many settings, but is most effective in a small group setting. It should not be made a "grand event" or public display, rather a small solemn occasion with a specific group or organization. A special ceremony or campfire would be appropriate. The actual ceremony should be an event by itself with no interruptions or "other business" during the ceremony. It may be a separate part of a larger program, but should have it's own time from beginning to end.

Beginning the ceremony:

Members of Retirement Team:

Equipment Needed:
Master of Ceremony
Color Guard of three to "Carry the Colors".
Fire builder/tender
"New" Flag Bearer
Any "Speakers" you may wish to have read the different parts
Scoutmaster		 "old" flag(s)
one flag stand (with easy clips)
one new flag to replace each old one.
stick to stir the ashes with

Have the "audience" or group form in a half circle around the place where the flag is to be retired, leaving enough space for the Color Guard to advance. (see diagram)

. 


 X (Fire Tender)           Fire
               XXX                         XXX
                    XXX                XXX
                         XXXXXXXX
                          XXXXXX                X
                         Audience               X Flag Bearer (old)
                                                Color   X
                                                Guard

Begin the ceremony by having the MC "silence" the audience and call for the colors:

MC: "Color Guard... present Colors"

The Color Guard, in full uniform, will march forward with the "Old Flag" attached to a Flag Pole, flag bearer in the center with one guard in front, and one guard in back. They are to come up the right side of the audience, from the rear of the area. As the flag approaches the view of the first person in the audience, the MC will call out: "Scouts... Hand Salute One." Everyone is to remain saluting until the Color Guard crosses behind the fire (in front of the MC) and lines up behind the flag stand. The MC will then ask the Color Guard to "Post the Colors" at which time the Flag Bearer will insert the flag into the flag stand, and all three will then step back and salute the flag.

MC: will then say "Two ; Color Guards return to ranks".

The Color Guard will then Step back and remain standing behind the flag. (Audience to remain standing)

Opening:

MC: "We are here today to honor the symbol of our country and retire a flag which has served its useful life as a symbol of freedom and our country. "

First Speaker: "I am your Flag. I was born on June 14, 1777. I am more than just a piece of cloth shaped into a colorful design, I am the silent sentinel of freedom for the greatest sovereign nation on earth. I am the inspiration for which America patriots gave their lives and fortunes, I am the emblem of America.

I have led your sons into battle from Valley Forge to Vietnam. I have been there though the Civil War, Two World wars, at Gettysburg, Flanders, Korea, the Gulf War, all of them. I was there with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and I here with you now.

I have flown through Peace and War. Through strife and Prosperity, and amidst it all, I have always been respected. My red stripes symbolize the blood spilled in defense of this glorious nation. My white stripes, the burning tears shed by Americans who lost their sons in battle. My blue field represents God's Heaven under which I fly, and my stars, clustered together, unify the fifty states as one for God and Country.

I am "Old Glory" and I proudly wave on high. Honor me, respect me, and defend me with your lives. Never let our enemies tear me down from my lofty position, lest I never return. Keep alight the fires of patriotism, strive earnestly for the spirit of democracy, and keep me always as a symbol of freedom, liberty, and peace in our country.

When comes the time when I am old and faded, do not let me fly in disrepair, rather retire me from my duties only to replace me with a new flag so that I may continue to symbolize our country. With this, renew your commitment to what I stand for and pledge your allegiance to me one final time :

MC: "Scouts... Hand Salute One! To the audience: Please join me in 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."

MC: "Two"

Second Reader: As you can see, this banner of Freedom before you is worn, tattered, and soiled from use and age. Her broad stripes are no longer a fiery red & pure white, but faded and worn out. The stars and blue background are no longer vivid reminders of our blue skies and great land, of the purity, vigilance, and justice she should represent. She has flown proudly over the years and has done her job well, but now she must be replaced with a new flag to properly represent this great Nation of ours.

MC: "Color Guard, Prepare to remove colors". " Remove Colors"

At this time the Color Guard is to step forward and remove the flag from the Flag Stand. They will then step back and fold the flag in the customary manner. They are to then step back and stand at attention with the Flag Bearer holding the flag in front of him, palms up.

Retiring the Colors:

MC: "Color Guard, Retire Colors"

At this time the Color Guard is to march over to the fire, unfold the flag, and present it to the audience in standard display form, one Guard Standing behind and to the right of the flag, and the other two holding each end of the flag for display.

Third Reader: The flag of our Nation should always be a strong, vivid symbol of our land and fly brightly in our minds. Our flag is a symbol of our people, our freedom, and our strength. So it is now that I commit this flag, which no longer can fulfill these duties to the fire so that we may replace it with a new flag to properly symbolize our Nation. May the spirit of this flag be born again in the new flag we will now fly"

MC: Scouts... Hand Salute One"

At this time the Color Guard will turn the flag sideways and gently drop it into the fire, folding the ends in toward the middle of the flame. The third Guard will use a long stick to then "stir the ashes" so that it will not be possible to recognize the ashes as a flag. They will then step back from the fire and stand at attention, and salute the flag.

MC: "Two"

MC: Color Guards... Prepare Colors"

At this time, the Color Guard will March Over to where the "new" flag Bearer is. The New Flag Bearer will hand the new flag to the Color Guard Flag Bearer and step back. The Color Guard will then march back to where they were standing behind the flag stand and stand at attention:

MC: "Color Guard... Prepare Colors" " Scouts... Hand salute One"

The Color Guard will then unfold the flag, remove the pole from the stand and attach it to the pole. They will then stand at attention, pole "at ready" to post.

MC: "Color Guard... Post Colors"

The Color Guard will then "Post the Colors" and step back and salute the Flag.

MC: "Please join me and welcoming this new flag by once again pledging our allegiance to it:"

"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."

MC: "Two... Color Guards return to Ranks".




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