Reveille and Retreat
When you are on a military installation Reveille (originating from the French word to “wake up”) will be played first thing in the morning as the flag is being raised and Retreat will be played and the of the duty day when the flag is being lowered. If outside during these times civilians, including children, should stand silently and face the flag.
If you are in your vehicle when it is time for Reveille or Retreat and are on a military installation, stop your car and turn off your music. If you are on an Army post, you are expected to get out of your vehicle (even if it is in the middle of the road), stand and face the flag. Once you are out of your vehicle you are expected to act as though you were outside during the ceremony. However, this varies depending on the branch of the military. If you are on a Navy, Air Force or Marine base, you do not need to get out of your vehicle, just stop it and turn off the music, sit quietly and listen while the Retreat bugle is played.
How to properly fold the flag
I always enjoyed the ceremony of honoring the flag on a US Navy warship. At 0800 in port we had morning colors and evening colors at sunset. Getting underway the word would pass to "Shift Colors, Ship's underway" when the last line left the pier and the flag and jack would come down as the flag went up on the top of the mast. Lots of tradition there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school, I decided to go out with the janitor to strike the colors on (I think) Veteran's Day. We folded the flag and walked back in silently. He told me he was a Navy vet, and thanked me. It was a good day.
ReplyDeleteAppropriate that "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" is playing in the background.
Jim