Did you know that there are, essentially, three codes for flag protocol that we follow? Let’s take a look.
The Three “Joints” For Colors Plus One
There are essentially three types of joint arrangements for the uniformed organizations in the US government. While this is not officially official, it helps us all to peel back the layers of the language we use and the services in our government. Let’s take a look.
The Officers You Salute and the Ones You Don’t
The US military has customs and courtesies. Wearing the service’s uniform is an example of a custom. Rendering a hand salute is a courtesy, albeit a required one.
Carrying a Foreign National or All Service Colors
This is huge. This changes 95% of color guards overseas as to make up (what flags are carried and when) and also affects some of the stateside teams as well. The protocol behind carrying foreign national flags was just assumed for many years. We can’t just assume anymore.
Displaying vs. Carrying Flags
There is a difference between carrying and displaying flags. A display of flags is already in a set of stands either for daily display or for an event/ceremony and not carried by a color guard.
Can Any Event Have a Colors Presentation?
Must an event be a formal military occasion to be eligible for a color guard to present the colors?
“Cutting” the Colors
There is a very strange story about a line of flags and members of the military and veterans not being authorized to walk in between them. Most of this is a load of fertilizer that is quite deep.
Folded Flag Salute Protocol
Yes, we want to honor our flag and we should, but…
The Chief Brief
You have an upcoming Line of Duty Death funeral and will be handing the flag to the Sheriff, Police Chief, or Fire Chief who will then hand the folded flag to the next of kin (NOK). What do you say to brief the Chief? Here is something to help you: “Chief, stand at the head of the casket. When I …
The Presidential “Return” Salute
Civilians do not return a salute, they aren’t military. Even a President who served in any branch of the US military, serves as the civilian head of the Armed Forces as Commander-in-Chief. It’s getting worse with each regime.