While I’m sure that you are completely mesmerized at my drawing abilities, I hope the illustrations help get the idea across.
First: Know What You’re Doing
Know the difference between posting and presenting the colors.
- Posting the colors: The color guard enters, renders honors, and places the colors in the stands.
- Presenting the colors: The color guard enters, renders honors, and departs. (“Show-n-Go”)
This article is about posting the colors.
Where to Post
Location. On stage at the back, in front on the floor, together, split—it’s up to you and your situation.
You are educated and trained in various techniques to handle different environments. Rely on that training. As long as the American flag receives the utmost respect during the ceremony, you will be fine.
Together or Split?
Again, that depends—but now we need to be more deliberate.
As long as the American flag is in the position of honor the entire time (in front of or to the right of the other flags), the decision comes down to:
- Clarity
- Aesthetics
- Visual balance (audience view, camera angles, stage layout)
If you split the display, you are no longer just arranging flags—you are organizing authority.
A split display must be logical, not just balanced.
The Rule of Logical Grouping
When you split post, group flags by what they represent. Do not mix everything just to make the numbers look even.
Correct approach:
- Civic group stays together
- Organizational flags form a separate group
Example:
American | State | City Organization | POW/MIA
That works because:
- The civic chain of authority stays intact
- The secondary flags are grouped separately
- The viewer immediately understands what they’re looking at
You are not dividing flags—you are separating domains.
Flag floor stands are usually separated by about 12″. You can take one team member’s foot and place it in between each stand to get even spacing- one team member.
“You Got Odds, I Got Evens.”
You decided to split post. Now let’s deal with the numbers.
Even number of flags
Simple:
- Split evenly (50/50)
- Maintain logical grouping
Odd number of flags
Now you have to think.
You cannot just split numbers—you must split meaning.
A 3-and-2 split is perfectly acceptable if it makes sense:
American | State | City Organization | POW/MIA
Numerical balance is secondary to logical structure.
Trying to force symmetry is where most people break the display.
What to Post
Post all of your flags.
Avoid preposting some flags and then carrying in others for posting. That creates a fragmented display. Think of it this way:
Having preposted flags while you carry others in is like having several flagpoles outside with some flags already raised while you walk in to raise the rest.
It doesn’t make sense—and it doesn’t look right.
Better Solution
If preposting is necessary:
- Prepost everything, or
- Conduct a Show-n-Go with the minimum colors
Example:
- Prepost: American, State, City, Organizational
- Present (Show-n-Go): American and State
Minimum and Standard Composition
Minimum Color Team
- 3 members:
- U.S. flag bearer
- Two guards
Standard (Military / First Responder)
- Two armed guards (rifles or axes)
- Additional colors as required
Typical Flag Inclusion
- American flag (always present, always primary)
- State flag
- Uniformed service flag
Additional Flags
- City
- Departmental (LEO, Fire, EMS)
- Organizational
POW/MIA Flag
- Secondary, never competes with the U.S. flag
- Is never carried in the color guard
- Must be preposted
- Best placed at the far end (viewer’s right) of a non-civic grouping when split
Personal Colors
A personal or positional color:
- Is never carried in the color guard
- Must be preposted
No other military flag should be preposted. No civil/civilian flag should be preposted. This is the one exception.
How to Post
See the article, All About Posting or Presenting the Colors.
Bottom Line
You have flexibility—but not freedom from structure.
- Keep the American flag in the position of honor
- Maintain logical groupings
- Don’t split authority chains
- Don’t chase symmetry at the expense of clarity
When you split post correctly, the display still reads as one complete system.
When you split it incorrectly, it becomes visual confusion.
Download
ICS DCS 12-605 Split Displays and Domain Separation in Static Flag Arrangements
ICS DCS 12-400 Tribal Flags, Sovereignty, and Display Protocol in the United States
ICS DCS 12-401 Authority Classification in Flag Systems
DCS ICS 12-402 Position, Height, and Spatial Logic in Flag Displays
Comments 7
Great -Thanks. Now the commands for retiring the colors please.
Author
That’s a tall order and I’ve been considering this for a while. It depends on the service you follow and the guidance is thin. It also depends on if you want regulation or ceremonial versions.
The color guard enters and either stops facing the audience or moves directly to the stands.
Bearers stand at Attention, “Ready Take” could be used to pull the staff out of the stand and held at the left side. The team departs together.
At some point, the team should present to the audience for a moment and then leave. I’ve never appreciated standing in front of a posted flagstaff, blocking everyone’s view, and saluting.
Concur with those commands.
Now, think about this one Drillmaster, before answering.
Issue: Veterans Volunteer Memorial Services Organizations that provide those Memorial Services for Veterans at selected VA National Cemeteries after the DOD withdrew uniformed service folks in the late 1980’s early 1900’s. Now on two uniformed service members are “required” (many times they do not show) to perform the US Flag Ceremony.
The Memorial Service Organization performs the 21 Rounds of Rifle Fire and TAPS. Question follows: The Memorial Services Organization uniform typically is composed of a White Polyester Shirt, Black Pants, Black Shoes, The NAVY Black Garrison Cap, Black Ascot, the Black Army Aiguillette (Chaplain) on Left Shoulder. Thus, if a Memorial Services Organization wanted to adopt a wide brimmed hat, like a Western Cowboy Cavalry Style headgear to protect from the Sun’s UV Rays, would that Memorial Services organization select a CAVALRY HAT with GOLD/YELLOW Hat Braid with Acorns for Cavalry or BLACK Hat Braid with Acorns for Mourning and Solace? WFR Thanks
Author
Mr. Reilly,
I have worked with several law enforcement agencies that wear cowboy hats and change the type depending on the season. I recommend straw for spring/summer and cloth for fall/winter. THe hat band is up to you and you can assign meaning to it, which I think is a very nice touch.
TY Drillmaster. We like to keep the focus on black to emphasize mourning and solace to the family
Greetings from Williamsburg Virginia,
I am a member of the color guard team for the upcoming Queen’s Jubilee. My organization is the Saint Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg. We are a Scottish organization. I have one question about posting. We have two events on June 2nd. The first is a parade through Colonial Williamsburg. I know how to present the colors for a parade. My concern is the evening event. It is also held outdoors and will be a few speeches and several pipe bands. We are to post the colors on the steps of the college building. The four of us will march through the doors to the outdoor plaza. We will have four flags, in the following order; American, British Union Jack, the Scottish St. Andrew’s Cross (Saltire), and the Saint Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg flag. On the steps, the flags will be split, two on each side of the doorway…US and British on the left facing the building and the other flags on the other side. Since this is a civilian event, our team will be in our Kilts, dress shirt, and tie.
What is the proper procedure for posting the flags? March out, stand behind the flag bases, and then when we are in position, Announce, “Post Colors”? We want to do this right. We could be on worldwide TV for this ceremony. Thanking you in advance.
Author
Mr. Madigan,
What a great opportunity! What you describe, marching through the doorway is appropriate. I would add here that the colors can be formally presented, non-national colors dipped, both anthems (Star-Spangled Banner last) played or sung, and then the team split up to post with the command, “Post!” Or, you can enter, split to behind the stands, “Post”, place the staffs in the stands, dress them toward the audience (flag silk in front of the staff, with you being able to see the staff, top of the flag dressed to your left), come to Attention, one step to the rear, halt, render the hand salute for the anthems, and depart.
If you want me to record a demonstration video for you and your team, let me know and I’ll do it right away.
DM