These guidelines will help make your ceremony go smoothly:
- Who will carry the flag?
- Who will be the color guards and what formation will they make?
- Who will give the directions for the ceremony?
- What song will be sung? Who will start the song?
- Who will say or read any extra parts?
- After the Pledge of Allegiance, will the Scout Law, Scout Oath, and/or Outdoor Code be recited?
- In what order will the parts of the ceremony take place?
- When will the group practice?
- Where will the flags be placed at the end of the ceremony?
Remember these points of U.S. Flag etiquette:
- The U.S. Flag is always displayed to the far right of other flags, or in the center and higher than all others.
- The U.S. Flag is displayed in a stand to the speaker's right as he faces the audience in an auditorium.
- The U.S. Flag is raised briskly and lowered slowly.
- When posting flags in stands, the U.S. Flag is always the last one posted and the first one lifted.
- When raising flags on flag poles, the U.S. Flag s always the first one raised and the last one lowered.
- The U.S. Flag should not be carried flat or horizontally.
- The U.S. Flag should not touch anything below it, should not have anything placed on or above it, should not be used to cover anything, and should be kept clean.
- When displayed after dark, the U.S. Flag should be illuminated.
- When no longer suitable for display, a U.S. Flag should be burned in a special flag retirement ceremony.