If you see a need...
Take the Lead!
If you see a need...
Take the Lead!
Patriotism is a character trait that Frontier Girls does its best to instill in every girl.  Knowing how to Frontier
Girl learns.  It  is also one of the most important ways we can give back to our communities.  At least one
troop in every community (or combination of troops) should have a Frontier Girl Flag Corp that volunteers
to “Present the Colors” (do a flag ceremony) for public events, school activities, sporting events, etc.  


Federal Flag Code

The 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 Flag Code.

Click Here for some of the rules most useful for Frontier Girls.


View Samples of a Frontier Girls Flag Ceremony


















How To Perform A Flag Ceremony

To hold a flag ceremony you will need the following participants:

Color (or Flag) Bearer - One per flag if more than one flag is present. Hold staff (pole) at 30°angle in
front of body, or hold folded flag (with point away from body) in front of body at waist level. The Flag Bearer
is  responsible for putting the flag in, or taking flag from, the stand, or raising/lowering flag from flagpole.

Color Guard - The purpose of the Color Guard of Honor is to protect the flag. Because this requires full
attention, the members do not participate in any part of the flag ceremony (singing, speaking, etc.), but
stand silently "At Attention."  The Color Guard may consist of any number. Ideally there should be at least
two Color Guards for each flag.  Color Guards stand on each side of the Color Bearer. Watch to see that
the flag does not touch the ground.  One or more members may assist flag bearer in posting/retrieving the
flag from the stand/pole. The minimum is one Color (Flag) Bearer and one Color Guard

Caller - Only member of Color Guard to speak. Gives directions to audience and commands to Color
Guard.

Line Leaders - Usually part of an outdoor Color Guard. Lead the audience into/out of the desired
formation

The Ceremony:

All girls should stand at attention.  When you are ready, have the caller begin

Caller:  “Please stand in honor of our flag.”  (Frontier Girls should stand at attention and in silence.)

Caller:  “Color Guards attention!”  (Color Guards should be standing at attention, eyes on the flag and
arms at their sides.)

Caller:  “Color Guards advance!”  (The Flag Bearer and Color Guards begin walking towards the caller.  
Color Guards should always be one step behind the Flag Bearer, and should keep an eye on the bottom of
the flag to catch it if it looks like it may touch the ground.)

Caller:  “Color Guards halt!”  (The Flag Bearer and Color Guards stop a few feet in front of the Caller or at
an appropriate location.)

Caller:  “Color Guards honor your colors!” (The Color Guards place their right hand over their hearts and
step back with their right foot and then come back to standing position.)

Caller:  “Color Guards present the colors!”  (The Flag Bearer and Color Guards turn around to face the
direction from which they came.  If there is an audience, such as during one of your ceremonies, this is
where they would be.  Make sure all the girls turn to their right side to keep it looking uniform.  The flag
bearer should step forward so that they are in front if the color guard.)

Caller:  “Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.  I pledge allegiance to the flag…”  (All Frontier Girls
and audience members should join in the Pledge.  Color Guards stand in silence.)

Caller:  “Color Guards post the colors!”  (The Flag Bearer brings the flag to wherever the stand is located,
usually in the front of the room somewhere, and then returns to position.)

Caller:  “Color Guards dismissed!”  (The Flag Bearer and Color Guards turn around and walk back to
where they began.)

Caller:  “Frontier Girls at ease!”  (The rest of the girls are now permitted to break formation and you may
continue with your meeting.)

While this is the basic format for a formal flag ceremony.  Every ceremony is a little bit different depending
on the size and location of your audience, whether a  parade flag is being used, or whether you are having
an outdoor ceremony using an actual flag pole.  As long as proper respect is always given to the flag, there
really is no wrong way to hold a ceremony.  

Many times you may wish to dress up your ceremonies to make them more meaningful by using songs,
poems or other readings.  The following pages hold several examples that we found on the internet that
you may find useful.  With a little searching you could probably find many more as well.  
Flag Ceremonies