Color Guard Commands

While many members of the SAR have a military background, some do not.  Accordingly, this section is intended to familiarize all Guardsmen with the standard commands.  The commands given below are a mixture of both modern commands and those commands used during the Revolutionary War.  Some units may prefer to use all modern commands while some will use a mixture and some will exclusively use those commands outlined in the Revolutionary War Drill Manual.  A specific policy has not been adopted as of the writing of this manual.

Posting the Colors & Other Indoor Events

The most common activity of any Color Guard will be the posting of the Colors at a meeting or some other public event that occurs indoors.  Given the wide variety of locations, meetings, and other details, there is no specific program that can be provided as an example.  However, the basic commands that will be used in such an event are provided.  In all commands where direction is given, the command should be timed so that the execution of the command begins on the left foot.

• · Color Guard, Attention.  With this command, the color guard should come to attention with flags and firearms on the floor to their right.
• · Carry Arms.  With this command, the flags and firearms are lifted into position so that they can be carried.
• · Color Guard, Mark Time March.  With this command, the color guard marches in place starting with the left foot so that tempo for subsequent commands can be established.
• · Color Guard, Forward March.  With this command, the color guard moves forward starting on their left foot.
• · Color Guard, Mark Time March.  With this command, the front rank halts their forward progress and continues to march in place allowing for subsequent ranks to catch up to the final position if necessary.
• · Color Guard, Halt.  With this command, all marching should cease within two beats or steps.
• · Color Guard, Left / Right Face.  With this command, all members face the appropriate direction as ordered by the Commander.
• · Present Colors.  With this command, all flags except the National are dipped and firearms are brought to the Present Arms position for pledges and the National Anthem.
• · Color Bearers, About Face.  With this command, all color bearers will turn to face toward the flag stands.
• · Post the Colors.  With this command, the color bearers place the flags in the flag stands and dress the flags appropriately.  Color bearers are free to move forward and back one step as necessary.  Musketeers continue to maintain the present arms position.
• · Present Arms.  With this command, color bearers will salute the posted Colors.
• · Order Arms.  With this command, all color guardsmen return to the attention position.
• · Color Guard, Center Face.  With this command, all members face the appropriate direction to move out of the room in a single column or in double column.
• · Color Guard, Post or To your Post.  With this command, all members move to a previously designated location, or post.

Additional notes for indoor events:

• · Musketeers will not fix bayonets for obvious safety reasons
• · The Commander must make all guardsmen aware of obstacles such as lighting fixtures
• · A drummer can be used to provide timing for commands
• · The National Colors should always either lead a column or process on the right of any rank
• · If ranks are used, a cross-over maneuver will be necessary after the Color Guard halts since the National Colors are always placed on the left (speaker’s right)
• · The same series of commands can be used for the Retiring of Colors at the end of the meeting except that there will be no Present Colors command and the Post the Colors command would be replaced by a Retrieve the Colors command.

Graveside / Outdoor / Other Outdoor Events

There are two common types of outdoor ceremonies in which the Color Guard most often participate:

• · The commemoration or celebration of the anniversary of a Revolutionary War Battle or event
• · The wreath-laying and/or marker dedication at the grave of a Revolutionary War Patriot or a Compatriot member of the SAR.  The commands used at these ceremonies are the same as those outlined above.

The differences between the indoor posting of colors and the outdoor ceremony are that there are more program elements associated with the outdoor event, and the Color Guard will often remain in place after the presentation of Colors due to the lack of outdoor flag stands.

If the Color Guard remains in place, the Commander should issue the following commands after the presentation of Colors:

• · Order Arms.  With this command, all guardsmen return flags and muskets to the carry position.
• · Color Guard, Rest.  With this command, flags and muskets are lowered to rest on the ground and the guardsmen are able to stand without being at attention.

If the program includes an honorary firing of muskets and/or the playing of Taps, the Commander should bring the Color Guard to attention and order the Color Guard to Present Arms using the appropriate commands.  In most cases, the master of ceremonies will ask for the Retirement of Colors shortly after this event, so the Color Guard should remain at attention and be prepared for further commands.

Parades

Given that most parades will only entail simple movements, the commands associated with parades are:

• · Color Guard, Attention.  With this command, the color guard should come to attention with flags and firearms on the floor to their right.
• · Order Arms.  With this command, the flags and firearms are lifted into position so that they can be carried.
• · Color Guard, Mark Time March.  With this command, the color guard marches in place starting with the left foot so that tempo for subsequent commands can be established.
• · Color Guard, Forward March.  With this command, the color guard moves forward starting on their left foot.
• · Color Guard, Mark Time March.  With this command, the front rank halts their forward progress and continues to march in place allowing for subsequent ranks to catch up to the final position if necessary.
• · Color Guard, Halt.  With this command, all marching should cease within two beats or steps.

If there is a Reviewing Stand during the parade, the Commander should brief the Color Guard of the following additional commands that will be used:

• · Present Arms.  With this command, all flags are dipped except the National Colors and all guardsmen will turn their heads 45 degrees towards the review stand)
• · Carry Arms.  With this command, all flags are returned to the carry position