Flag ceremonies are often part of a larger ceremony or event. Some troops host a flag ceremony at every troop meeting. Others troops reserve ceremonies for big days like bridging or end of year celebrations. At camp, a flag ceremony often starts and ends each day. Most of our flag ceremonies aren’t perfect, and that’s ok. Girls are learning and practicing how things are done, which means mistakes will be made. Your goal as a volunteer is to set the tone and provide guidance to complete the ceremony.

Our flag ceremony reminders in this article are for ones taking places on stage or with a stage area at the front of the room where flags on poles are placed in stands up front.

Make a plan

There are a few decisions you will want to make before the ceremony. You’ll want to select which flags you’ll be using and make sure each has a working pole and stand. You also want to decide what you want to include during the ceremony. For instance, determine whether you want to add the Girl Scout Promise or Law after the Pledge of Allegiance, or include a poem or song.

Prepare the Girls

Girls have different roles to fill during the ceremony. Each girl needs to know what she is responsible for doing, and what her cues are. You’ll want to save time to practice ahead of time. Let’s look at the roles.

The color bearer (or flag bearer) is the person who carries the flag. There is one color bearer for each flag used in the ceremony.

The color guard is a team that guards the flags. Any even number of guards may be used, but usually four or six girls are sufficient.

The Girl Scout in charge (or caller) is a designated Girl Scout who announces or calls each part of the ceremony. You’ll find an example of ceremony commands at GSUSA’s website.

Get to Know the United States Flag Code

Display of the American flag is governed by law to ensure that it will be treated with the respect due the flag of a great nation. This is known as the United States Flag Code. Some of the rules most useful for Girl Scouts posting the flags on a stage are:

• When the flags are posted in stands or raised on a pole, the American flag is always kept higher than other flags.
• The American flag is placed in its stand after other flags are lowered into their standards.
• When it’s time to retire the colors, the American flag is taken out of its stand first.
• The flag, when carried in a procession with other flags, should be either on the marching right or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
• The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, nor should it ever be carried flat or horizontally—always aloft and free.
• When displayed on a stage where a speaker will be or action is taking place, the flag is placed on the speaker’s right as they look out to the audience. All other flags can be displayed on the speaker’s left.