Comments 5

  1. Sir,
    I did have one additional question regarding the fringe on flags.
    If a first responder color guard choses to not have gold fringe on the American Flag, is it expected to have fringe on the state flag which, in my case, would be the Colorado state flag as well as the organizational flag ensuring that they are all of the same size, material and fringe?
    In Christ’s Service,
    -Cody Poole

    1. Post
      Author

      Mr. Poole,

      I would treat the state flag just like the US. If you do not have fringe on both, that would be appropriate. Both are “state” flags. Having fringe on your department flag would be appropriate as it would be a “ceremonial color”.

      DM

  2. Sir,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to answering these questions for me. Very thorough as always and I really do appreciate you sharing your knowledge. These answers help so much to further my understanding as a commander. It is my goal to ensure my honor guard performing procedures correctly.

    I’m sure I will have additional questions in the future.

    Again, thank you for taking the time.

    In Christ’s Service,

    -Cody Poole

  3. Good evening sir,

    I had asked you a couple of clarification questions a couple of months ago regarding my fire department honor guard and private ambulance company honor guard, and received a very detailed reply for which I was very grateful.

    I downloaded all the D&C manuals you had listed on your website. (Much to read)

    I have a few more questions if you have the time.

    Also, I had promised to send you a video of our flag posting for critique and have yet to do that. I apologize as things have gotten hectic and some of my personal projects have gone on the back burner. I will send you that video in the near future.

    Ok here are my questions.

    1. I notice that most aiguillettes in most honor guards are placed on the left shoulder. Is there any reason for this and would there ever be a reason to have it on the right shoulder?

    2. I’ve heard you speak before on the appropriateness of fringe and tassels on the American flag between different military branches and their honor guards and I believe that I had read somewhere on your website that fringe and tassels are not recommended on Fire Department Honor Guard flags. I will be buying new flags for my Guard soon. Could you elaborate on fringe and tassels on fire department honor guard flags?

    3. I understand there are many myths and misconceptions out there regarding things a color guard can never do. I know we had discussed how a color guard never performs an about face or rear march. On thing I hear often and understand is the American flag bearer never dips the flag in salute and the flag is to always remain vertical and free. However, I also understand, and correct me if I’m wrong, there are times the American flag must dip, for example to pass through a doorway which is to short to pass if the flag remains vertical. Also I read in on the Color Guard Flag Protocol article that the American Flag is always held vertical OR slightly inclined forward for the Army only. When is it ever appropriate to “dip” the American flag and why does the Army incline it forward depending on the ceremonial drill?

    4. I believe I read in The Honor Guard manual or somewhere else that flashy, showy and extravagant movements are never appropriate for a Color Guard, especially when posting/presenting the Colors. I agree with this, but I see so many of my fellow Honor Guards trying to make things so showy and flashy. Could you give some more information as to why flashy and showy movements are inappropriate for a Color Guard?

    5. I read that departmental colors are always to be carried with the American flag and never carried alone or in the second rank of a large Color Guard. Could you elaborate on which flags may be carried in a second rank of a large Guard.

    I realize there are a lot of questions here and I suspect I will have more in the future. I just here so much information which I am a bit skeptical of and everyone seems to have their own interpretation of how these things work. I consider you the most reliable source.

    In Christ’s service

    -Cody Poole

    1. Post
      Author

      Mr. Poole,

      You ask incredibly detailed questions! Questions that take essays to answer… That’s OK. I don’t mind. I’ve pasted your questions below with my answer underneath.

      1. I notice that most aiguillettes in most honor guards are placed on the left shoulder. Is there any reason for this and would there ever be a reason to have it on the right shoulder?

      Answer: Shoulder cords were types of awards offering a certain level of recognition. Traditionally, awards are mainly worn on the left, most likely due to aesthetics (visual balance- the right side is visually “heavier” than the left and adding anything to the left side creates a visual balance).

      2. I’ve heard you speak before on the appropriateness of fringe and tassels on the American flag between different military branches and their honor guards and I believe that I had read somewhere on your website that fringe and tassels are not recommended on Fire Department Honor Guard flags. I will be buying new flags for my Guard soon. Could you elaborate on fringe and tassels on fire department honor guard flags?

      Answer: You will want to read these two articles: https://thedrillmaster.org/2017/12/19/to-fringe-or-not-to-fringe-that-is-the-question/ and https://thedrillmaster.org/2021/01/20/flag-fringe-theory/ for fringe information that concerns the US military. As for first responders it’s your choice. Fringe was added to keep the silk clean 200 years ago and now, Army Regulation 800-10 describes fringe as a decoration to the flag that makes a flag a Ceremonial Color. I can see the benefit of fringe on the silk.

      3. I understand there are many myths and misconceptions out there regarding things a color guard can never do. I know we had discussed how a color guard never performs an about face or rear march. One thing I hear often and understand is the American flag bearer never dips the flag in salute and the flag is to always remain vertical and free. However, I also understand, and correct me if I’m wrong, there are times the American flag must dip, for example to pass through a doorway which is to short to pass if the flag remains vertical. Also, I read in on the Color Guard Flag Protocol article that the American Flag is always held vertical OR slightly inclined forward for the Army only. When is it ever appropriate to “dip” the American flag and why does the Army incline it forward depending on the ceremonial drill?

      Answer: National flags of any nation never dip here in the US. We follow international protocol in ensuring that all national flags are carried aloft, free, and at the same level. This applies to all color guards. There is a naval protocol that dips national flags in recognition of ships at sea, but that does not apply at any time to a color guard.

      The slight angle forward by the Army (not the honor guard), is purely a traditional method. The AF and SF follow that tradition (again, not the honor guard).

      Angling the staff forward (called Angle Port) is not considered dipping in salute since it is a physical requirement to move through a very low clearance area like a doorway and all flagstaffs are angled forward and lower than the national. In the ceremonial drill world, it is also considered a way of taking the focus off the colors that the colors guard has presented (indoors for a ceremony, at a funeral, a ball game, etc.).

      4. I believe I read in The Honor Guard manual or somewhere else that flashy, showy and extravagant movements are never appropriate for a Color Guard, especially when posting/presenting the Colors. I agree with this, but I see so many of my fellow Honor Guards trying to make things so showy and flashy. Could you give some more information as to why flashy and showy movements are inappropriate for a Color Guard?

      Answer: I’ve seen many of your colleagues around the country with “look at what I did” type of moves. “Flashy” and “showy” moves are all about the individual who made them up. For us in the military, an honor guard does not wear name tags because we do not represent ourselves. We are just Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, or Coast Guardsmen representing all members of our service, past and present. That applies to every ceremony we do. When it comes to being a member of the colors guard, we then represent our nation. I was a member of many, many color guards in several countries and a few states. I was never TSgt John Marshall, the color bearer or rifle guard, I was an Airman, and American citizen standing tall and ensuring I did not screw anything up. It wasn’t about me and for the men and women I served with it wasn’t about them either. It’s something greater, an idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While that may sound corny to some, it is an ideal.

      Having the Flag Code adopted by Congress on July 22, 1947 helped Americans understand the specialness of our flag.

      5. I read that departmental colors are always to be carried with the American flag and never carried alone or in the second rank of a large Color Guard. Could you elaborate on which flags may be carried in a second rank of a large Guard.
      Answer: Military departmental colors are not carried on their own. I would also apply that to first responder department colors, although most first responders carry the national and state. For the military, a mass color guard (one with two or more ranks) has only the organization’s subordinate unit flags in those ranks.

      Since that does not apply to first responders, civil and civilian color guards then usually just put all the flags they can in whatever position, so we need some guidance here.

      Any foreign national flag must be carried in the first rank. If there are more than two foreign national flags, I would suggest making another color guard with just those flags. If there are many (20, 50, a large amount), then creating a large block formation (4 across and how many ever deep) for a parade or two across for a static ceremony would be best. I would apply the above standard of foreign national flags to state and territory flags. Foreign national flags are placed in order alphabetically in English and state and territory flags should be by date of acceptance into the union but can be alphabetical.

      First responders carry the national, state, county, city, and department flags (in that order). There are departments that may carry a foreign flag for historic reference (Ireland, for example) or as part of the presentation between two sports teams (Canada plays US, etc.). The foreign national flag would go to the US’s immediate left and also never dip during either anthem.

      There is no reason that I see for first responders to carry military departmental flags or the POW.

      I hope this helps.

      DM

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