Opening Ceremonys

Flagpole Style

This ceremony is a script of how to perform a flag ceremony with 1-3 flag poles with ropes to raise and lower the flag. This script should NOT be used if no flag poles are present.

Leader: Will the Audience please rise for the presentation of the Colors.

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, Attention.

Colorguard as well as Scouts and Scouters since they should be Scouts also go from an "at ease" stance (feet apart, hands behind back maybe, relaxed) to "attention" (feet together, standing tall, hands at sides in fists,)

Leader: Colorguard, Forward, March

The Colorguard then marches forward until they reach the flag poles. If there are multiple flagpoles, each flag detail (American flag, and/or State flag, and/or Camp flag) stops at each of the poles dedicated to their flag. The State flag goes to stage right or second-highest flag pole, the American flag in the center and tallest pole, and the Camp or organization flag goes on stage left or the shortest pole.

Depending on how you set up the ceremony (walking in from the left or right or walking from the back) line up in accordance with how the flag poles are set up.

Leader: Colorguard, Halt

The Colorguard should then halt within 2 steps. Ex, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, Colorguard, halt, left, right.

Leader: Colorguard, prepare to present the Colors

Colorguard should unfold the flags until a fold in the center is left.

Leader: Colorguard, Present the Colors

All flags are then fully unfolded and shown to the audience.

Leader: Colorguard, prepare to raise the Colors

Colorgaurd attaches the flags to the flag pole rope using the grommets and clips and then one person has a hold of the rope but does not raise the colors yet.

Leader: Camp/Audience, salute. If you are not in uniform, please place your right hand over your heart and remove any non-religious headwear)

Leader: Colorguard, raise the colors.

The American flag should be the first up and the fastest moving. Followed by the State, then the organization. After they are raised, the Colorguard wraps the rope around whatever is provided on the pole (usually a cleat), stands to the side, and salutes.

Leader: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge...

Leader: Colorguard, return to ranks.

This lets them execute an about/left/right face, forward march, halt, and about/left/right face.

OPTIONAL:

Leader: Scout signs.

Leader: Please join me in the Scout Oath/Scout Law/Outdoor Code.

Use any of the Oath, Law, and Outdoor Code in any order preferred.

Continue:

After the ceremony is complete, make sure to say,

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, at ease, Colorguard, dismissed.

Moving Flagpole Style

In this style, the flags are already attached to a pole that is then posted on a stand usually at the front of the room. Hence, moving flagpole style.

Leader: Will the Audience please rise for the presentation of the Colors.

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, Attention.

Colorguard as well as Scouts and Scouters since they should be Scouts also go from an "at ease" stance (feet apart, hands behind back maybe, relaxed) to "attention" (feet together, standing tall, hands at sides in fists,)

Leader: Colorguard, Forward, March

The American Flag should be in the front and on stage right while moving and when posted. The State flag (if there is one) should be on stage left or the second flag in line. Finally, the Organization flag should also be on stage left or last in line.

Once the flags are halfway to their final positions, do this.

Leader: Camp/Audience/Scouts, salute. If you are not in uniform, please place your right hand over your heart and remove any non-religious headwear

Leader: Colorguard, halt.

Leader: Colorguard, post the colors.

Once the flags are posted, make sure that the Colorguard stands to the side of the flags and salutes.

Leader: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge...

Leader: Colorguard, return to ranks.

This lets them execute an about/left/right face, forward march, halt, and about/left/right face.

OPTIONAL:

Leader: Scout signs.

Leader: Please join me in the Scout Oath/Scout Law/Outdoor Code.

Use any of the Oath, Law, and Outdoor Code in any order preferred.

Continue:

After the ceremony is complete, make sure to say,

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, at ease, Colorguard, dismissed.

Below is a simpler version of this ceremony. See what you think.

In this style, the flags are already attached to a pole that is then posted on a stand usually at the front of the room. Hence, moving flagpole style.

Leader: Will the Audience please rise for the presentation of the Colors.

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, Attention.

Colorguard as well as Scouts and Scouters since they should be Scouts also go from an "at ease" stance (feet apart, hands behind back maybe, relaxed) to "attention" (feet together, standing tall, hands at sides in fists,)

Leader: Colorguard, honor the Colors.

This lets the Colorguard perform a forward march, halt, post the colors, and stand to the side.

Once the flags are halfway to their final positions, do this.

Leader: Camp/Audience/Scouts, salute. If you are not in uniform, please place your right hand over your heart and remove any non-religious headwear

Once the flags are posted, make sure that the Colorguard stands to the side of the flags and salutes.

Leader: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge...

Leader: Colorguard, return to ranks.

This lets them execute an about/left/right face, forward march, halt, and about/left/right face.

OPTIONAL:

Leader: Scout signs.

Leader: Please join me in the Scout Oath/Scout Law/Outdoor Code.

Use any of the Oath, Law, and Outdoor Code in any order preferred.

Continue:

After the ceremony is complete, make sure to say,

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, at ease, Colorguard, dismissed.

Closing Ceremonys

Flagpole Style

This ceremony is a script of how to perform a flag ceremony with 1-3 flag poles with ropes to raise and lower the flag. This script should NOT be used if no flag poles are present.

Leader: Will the Audience please rise for the presentation of the Colors.

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, Attention.

Colorguard as well as Scouts and Scouters since they should be Scouts also go from an "at ease" stance (feet apart, hands behind back maybe, relaxed) to "attention" (feet together, standing tall, hands at sides in fists,)

Leader: Colorguard, Forward, March

Depending on how you set up the ceremony (walking in from the left or right or walking from the back) line up in accordance with how the flag poles are set up.

Leader: Colorguard, Halt

The Colorguard should then halt within 2 steps. Ex, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, Colorguard, halt, left, right.

Leader: Colorguard, prepare to retire the colors.

The Colorguard should then untie the rope from the cleat attached to the flagpole, and the command, lower the colors. The organization's flag should be the first down, State second, and then American slowest and last.

Leader: Colorguard, retire the Colors.

From here, the Colorguard should fold the flags and reform ranks automatically.

Leader: Colorguard, left/right/about, face.

Leader: Colorguard, forward, march.

From here, wait until the Colorguard reaches the designated area, probably from where they started.

Leader: Colorguard, halt

OPTIONAL:

Leader: Scout signs.

Leader: Please join me in the Scout Oath/Scout Law/Outdoor Code.

Use any of the Oath, Law, and Outdoor Code in any order preferred.

Continue:

After the ceremony is complete, make sure to say,

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, at ease, Colorguard, dismissed.

Moving Flagpole Style

In this style, the flags are already attached to a pole that is then posted on a stand usually at the front of the room. Hence, moving flagpole style.

Leader: Will the Audience please rise for the presentation of the Colors.

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, Attention.

Colorguard as well as Scouts and Scouters since they should be Scouts also go from an "at ease" stance (feet apart, hands behind back maybe, relaxed) to "attention" (feet together, standing tall, hands at sides in fists,)

Leader: Colorguard, Forward, March

Leader: Colorguard, Forward, March

Leader: Colorguard, Halt

The Colorguard should then halt within 2 steps. Ex, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, Colorguard, halt, left, right.

Leader: Colorguard, retire the Colors.

From here, the Colorguard should take the flags and reform ranks automatically.

Leader: Colorguard, left/right/about, face.

Leader: Colorguard, forward, march.

From here, wait until the Colorguard reaches the designated area, probably from where they started.

Leader: Colorguard, halt

OPTIONAL:

Leader: Scout signs.

Leader: Please join me in the Scout Oath/Scout Law/Outdoor Code.

Use any of the Oath, Law, and Outdoor Code in any order preferred.

Continue:

After the ceremony is complete, make sure to say,

Leader: Scouts and Scouters, at ease, Colorguard, dismissed.