Nassau County (NY) Police Department Explorers

More Than One Flag At a Ceremony

DrillMasterColor Guard/Color Team, Honor Guard, Instructional, Protocol and Flag 2 Comments

“You cannot display more than one flag at a ceremony!” That’s one of several urban legends I’ve heard over the years related to me or told directly to me by well meaning people. Well meaning people who don’t know what they are talking about. Apparently, one set already posted and another set formally presented is “too many”. I know, you …

Replacing the Army Spade Finial

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Color Guard, Color Guard/Color Team, Honor Guard, Instructional, Protocol and Flag, Regulation Drill Leave a Comment

Finial = the topper/ornament of a flagstaff Flagstaff = the guidon staff carried by a color guard member Active Duty and Reserve US Navy and US Coast Guard color guards are required to have the battle-ax, also called a Battalion Lance, as their primary finial, according to NTP 13B, Flags, Pennants and Customs (download from the Resources page). The silver …

Organizing a Massing of the Colors Event

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Massed Colors Massed colors, but not the type outlined in the Army and Marine drill and ceremonies manuals. These manuals specifically state to not have multiple color guards at a ceremony. One is enough. But, that’s for strictly military formations. Click here for information on a massed colors formation. Massing of the Colors is an event where multiple color guards …

Appropriate Flag Retirement

DrillMasterHonor Guard Training, Protocol and Flag 26 Comments

Stop cutting the flag just to burn it. A tattered or faded American Flag is ready for retirement. Retiring an American flag means to burn it. Some people feel that burning a flag, no matter the situation, is still disrespectful. In the flag retirement situation, nothing could be further from the truth.

All About the Color Guard

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Color Guard, Color Guard/Color Team, Honor Guard, Instructional, Protocol and Flag 58 Comments

Please read this article very carefully. The following information is based in regulation drill. Much of the information directly relates to ceremonial unit color guards. Even though this is not about ceremonial drill (honor guard), color guards are ceremonial in nature and all must adhere to the standards. Written in 2018, updated in 2022 for clarity. Definitions Who is Represented? …