4.2 National Flag Etiquette, Colors, Reveille, Retreat, and Honors to the Nation

National Flag Etiquette, Colors, Reveille, Retreat, and Honors to the Nation

Core Principle: The Flag of the United States of America represents the living symbol of our nation's freedom, sovereignty, constitutional principles, and the sacrifices of the millions who have defended it. In the military profession, respect for the National Flag is governed by statutory law under Title 4, United States Code (The Flag Code) and military doctrine under Army Regulation 600-25 (Salutes, Honors, and Courtesy). Soldiers must master the exact specifications, daily ceremonial sequences, and movement courtesies that honor the colors.

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1. Statutory and Doctrinal Governance: Title 4 U.S. Code & AR 600-25

The National Flag of the United States is composed of 13 horizontal alternating red and white stripes (representing the original thirteen colonies) and a blue field (the "union") containing 50 white, five-pointed stars (representing the 50 sovereign states of the Union).

• Title 4, United States Code: Enacted by the United States Congress, Title 4 establishes the national standards for displaying, hoisting, lowering, and disposing of the U.S. Flag across all federal, state, and civilian jurisdictions.
• AR 600-25: Implements and operationalizes statutory flag etiquette for the Department of the Army, outlining the specific duties of garrison commanders, installation buglers, color details, and individual Soldiers during daily ceremonies and military honors.

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2. Standard Types, Dimensions, and Occasions for U.S. Flags

The Army recognizes several authorized sizes of the National Flag, each engineered and designated for specific climatic, ceremonial, and geographical requirements:

  [ Garrison Flag ] ---> 20 ft x 38 ft (Holidays, Presidents Day, 4th of July)
  [ Post Flag ]     ---> 8 ft 11-3/8 in x 17 ft (Daily Fair-Weather Flag)
  [ Field Flag ]    ---> 6 ft 8 in x 12 ft (Field Installations & Tactical Displays)
  [ Storm Flag ]    ---> 5 ft x 9 ft 6 in (Severe Inclement Weather & High Winds)
  [ Interment Flag] ---> 5 ft x 9 ft 6 in (50 Embroidered Stars, Casket Presentation)

Detailed Flag Specifications

1. Garrison Flag (20 feet hoist by 38 feet fly): The largest authorized flag flown from installation flagpoles. Hoisted exclusively on federal holidays, Independence Day, George Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and special ceremonial occasions officially designated by the President of the United States or installation commander.
2. Post Flag (8 feet 11-3/8 inches hoist by 17 feet fly): The standard daily operational flag flown over Army garrisons, posts, and stations during fair weather.
3. Field Flag (6 feet 8 inches hoist by 12 feet fly): Displayed by field commands, deployed brigade and division headquarters, or temporary tactical posts where maintaining the larger post flag is impractical.
4. Storm Flag (5 feet hoist by 9 feet 6 inches fly): Made of durable, heavy nylon or bunting, the storm flag is flown in place of the post flag during inclement weather, heavy rain, snowstorms, and severe winds. It prevents damage to larger flags and preserves the main halyard rigging.
5. Interment / Funeral Flag (5 feet hoist by 9 feet 6 inches fly): Standard 50-star national flag draped over the casket of deceased military veterans during funeral honors. It is never flown from a flagpole; upon completion of military honors, it is ceremonially folded and presented to the primary next of kin with the gratitude of the nation.

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3. Daily Ceremonial Bugle Sequences: Reveille and Retreat

Every Army garrison orchestrates daily ceremonies marking the beginning and conclusion of the official duty day. Understanding the precise timing and bugle call sequences is critical for board success:

Morning Colors: The Reveille Ceremony

• Purpose: Commemorates the historical morning wake-up call, serves as the roll-call bugle call of the garrison, and marks the official commencement of the duty day (traditionally at 0600 or 0630).
• Sequence:
  1. The installation bugler plays the bugle call "Reveille".
  2. Simultaneously with the sounding of Reveille, the morning gun (a blank artillery round fired by the salute battery) reports across the post.
  3. As the bugle sounds, the flag detail hoists the National Flag briskly to the peak of the flagpole.

Evening Colors: Retreat and "To the Color"

• Purpose: Marks the official conclusion of the military duty day (traditionally at 1700) and honors the lowering of the National Colors.
• Sequence:
  1. Retreat: The ceremony commences with the bugle call "Retreat". This call signals the end of the day. Personnel face the flag (or music) and assume the position of Parade Rest.
  2. The Evening Gun: Immediately at the conclusion of "Retreat", the evening gun fires.
  3. Snap to Attention & Present Arms: At the instant the evening gun fires, all personnel snap smartly to the position of Attention and execute Present Arms (hand salute).
  4. "To the Color" or National Anthem: The installation sound system or live bugler plays "To the Color" (or the band plays "The Star-Spangled Banner"). "To the Color" is rendered the identical honors and courtesy as the National Anthem.
  5. Lowering the Flag: The flag detail lowers the flag slowly and ceremoniously, pacing the descent so that the flag reaches the waiting hands of the detail exactly on the final note of music.

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4. Protocols and Mandatory Actions During Honors to the Nation

When "The Star-Spangled Banner", "To the Color", or "Reveille" sounds on an installation, all activity ceases. Actions depend strictly on uniform and location:

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5. Flag Display, Positioning, and Half-Staff Rules

Statutory rules dictate the precise arrangement when displaying the National Colors alongside other symbols:

The Position of Honor

In heraldry, the right side of a speaker, stage, or formation is the position of honor. From the perspective of the flag itself looking out at the audience, its own right is the position of honor. To an observer facing the stage or wall, this corresponds to the observer's left.

• Flat Against a Wall: The blue field (union) must always be at the top and to the flag's own right (the observer's top left), whether displayed horizontally or vertically.
• Suspended Over a Street: The flag is suspended vertically with the union to the north on an east-west street, or to the east on a north-south street.
• Staff Display with State and Local Flags: When grouped on staffs, the U.S. flag occupies the center and highest point. When displayed in a line with state, city, or organizational banners, the U.S. flag is placed on the marching right (observer's far left).
• Display with Foreign National Flags: Under international law during peacetime, the flags of different sovereign nations must be flown from separate staffs of equal height and be of approximately equal size. The U.S. flag takes the position of honor on its own right (observer's left).

Half-Staff Rules and Presidential Proclamations

Flying the flag at half-staff is a solemn national symbol of mourning and honor:

1. Hoisting and Lowering Mechanics: The flag must always be hoisted briskly to the peak for an instant before being lowered slowly to the half-staff position (halfway between the top and bottom of the mast). Before final lowering for the night, the flag must again be hoisted briskly to the peak, then lowered slowly to the ground.
2. Memorial Day Protocol: On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon (1200 hours) to honor the nation's fallen warriors. At noon, the flag is hoisted briskly to the peak for the remainder of the day until sunset, symbolizing the living nation's resilience and enduring resolve.
3. Statutory Half-Staff Durations (Title 4 U.S. Code):
   • Death of a President or Former President: Flown at half-staff for 30 days.
   • Death of a Vice President, Chief Justice, or Speaker of the House: Flown at half-staff for 10 days.
   • Death of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Cabinet Secretary, or Former Vice President: Flown from the day of death until burial.

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6. Ceremonial Folding of the National Colors

A flag detail consisting of two or more Soldiers folds the flag with ceremonial precision. The procedure consists of 13 precise triangular folds:

1. The flag is held horizontally at waist level by the detail, stretched flat and taut.
2. First Lengthwise Fold: The lower striped half is folded lengthwise over the upper blue field, bringing the edges flush.
3. Second Lengthwise Fold: The flag is folded lengthwise again, keeping the blue field on the outside.
4. Triangular Folds: Starting at the striped end, a triangular fold is executed by bringing the striped corner to the open edge. Successive triangular folds continue across the length of the flag (13 folds total).
5. Final Appearance: When the fold reaches the union, the remaining margin of the blue field is neatly tucked into the open fold pocket. The finished product must resemble a crisp three-cornered "cocked hat" showing only the blue field of stars, with zero red or white stripes visible.

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7. Flag Specifications and Ceremonial Actions Reference Table