Pack 451 Flag Ceremony
The flag ceremony is a key part to many scouting activities. There are many slight variations to flag ceremonies. Use this as a guide for performing flag ceremonies at Pack 451 events.
The left column is read by the "announcer". The right column contains extra notes on what should be happening at the time.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of this page.
Click here for an easier ceremony appropriate for Tigers and Wolves.
Opening
The Cub Scout announcer takes his
place on stage facing the audience, and the color guards with
the U.S. flag and the Pack 451 or Arizona flag. |
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"Will the audience please rise."
Alternate phrase "Will the audience please rise and remove your hats." |
Everyone stands. If you are in your Class A uniform, you may keep your hat on. Otherwise, hats off! |
| "Color guard,
advance." |
The color guard walks the flags from the back of the room to the stage. The US flag leads and the state or Pack flag follows. Extra "flag helpers" follow behind their flag. The flags are "furled" or wrapped around their poles. You should never salute a furled or folded flag. Pause to let color guard reach the stage and pivot as a unit
so that they face the audience with the U.S. Flag on the
speaker's right. |
"Color guard, present colors."
"Cub Scouts Salute!" |
Both flags are "unfurled" or unwrapped from around their poles. Both flags are displayed at an angle so that the bottom of the pole is touching the scout's feet and his arms are outstretched. The audience may now salute the unfurled US flag. |
| "Please join me in reciting the
Pledge of Allegiance." |
Scouts and adults in uniform salute. All others place your hand over your heart. |
| "Two!" |
This is the signal to the audience to end your salute. |
| "Color guard, post colors." |
The flags are now posted in their holders. "Flag helpers" should grab the bottom of the pole and guide it into the holder. |
| "Color guard, salute colors." |
Until this point, the color guard has not had an opportunity to salute the flag because they have had their hands full holding the flags. |
| "Two!" |
This is the signal to the color guard to end your salute. |
| "Color guard, dismissed." |
The color guard walks quickly and quietly back to their seats. |
| "Audience may be seated." |
Please let the color guard know that they did a good job by giving them a big round of applause. |
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Closing
The Cub Scout announcer again takes his
place on stage, and the color guard members are at the back of the
room or seated with their den. |
"Will the audience please rise." |
As with the opening ceremony, if you are in your Class A uniform, you may keep your hat on. Otherwise, hats off! |
| "Color guard, please advance." |
Pause while color guard advances. Walk with dignity, don't run! |
| "Color guard, salute" |
The color guard cannot salute while they are carrying the flags. Therefore, they salute before picking up the flags. The audience does not salute at this time. |
| "Two." |
The signal for the color guard to end their salute. |
"Color guard, retire
the colors."
"Cub Scout Salute!" |
Since the flag is unfurled, the audience salutes (if in uniform) or place your hand over your heart (if not in uniform) as the flag passes by. |
| "Two." |
The signal for the audience to end their salute. |
| "Audience dismissed." |
Please let the color guard know that they did a good job by giving them a big round of applause. |
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