| Flag Ceremonies |
| How to handle the American Flag Guidelines for conducting and Indoor and Outdoor Flag Ceremony Recipe for an American Flag |
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| Flag Ceremony--Definition of Terms Caller--the Girl-Scout-In-Charge who announces the procedure. Color Bearer--the person who carries one of the flags. Color Guard--one or more persons who escort and assist the flag bearer. Term is also used to describe the color guard and bearers as a group. Colors--the flag of the United States of America. Eyelets--holes, usually with grommets, on the field edge of the flag which are used to attach the flag to the staff or halyard. Field--the blue part of the American flag on which there are 50 stars. Halyard-- a rope used to raise a flag on a mast or pole. Honors--a rapid silent salute given by the color guard before picking or posting the flag. Pole--a staff that is fixed firmly in the ground. Post--to place the staff firmly in the stand. Salute--right hand is placed over the heart. Staff--the rigid pole to which the flag is attached so it can be carried or flown. Stand--a solid holder on the floor into which the staff is placed. Symbol--something that stands for ( or represents) a feeling, a concept, or a group of people. Wheel-- two or more people, shoulder to shoulder, turning together. Recipe For An American Flag (a.k.a. Make a Flag Ceremony) Materials: large basket folded American Flag red and white streamers blue piece of paper or small cloth cut out paper stars flag pole [In center of stage is a large basket in which a flag is hidden.] Narrator: Will you please rise for the presentation of the colors. [Girls come in single file, each carrying a component of the flag. They are followed by the Girl Scout flag. Girls stand across the stage behind the basket.] Narrator: Red for valor - for the courage of all women who, with a dream in their hearts, crossed the ocean to begin life anew in a free land. For the bravery of women who, with hope and faith, crossed the prairie and mountains of our vast land. For the steadfastness of these women who, through all adversities, shouldered the country's burdens to emerge as stronger individuals. [Place red streamers in basket.] Narrator: White for purity - for the integrity of all women whose fortitude wove the strands of diverse cultures into an integral national heritage. For the piety of all women whose faith formed the foundation upon which our country was built and continues to grow. [White streamers are placed in basket.] Narrator: Blue for justice - for the foresight of all those women who created an atmosphere in which each of their children could develop to their fullest potential. For the perseverance of all those women who contributed their talents to further the development of our country. [Light blue paper or piece of cloth is placed in basket.] Narrator: Stars for dreams - for the dreams of the future. That the generations of tomorrow may fulfill the promise of the past 200 years, so that the visions of those who came before us will be revitalized and the future will hold forth hope and promise for all generations to come. [Stars are placed in basket.] ]Pick up flagpole and "stir"] Narrator: Stirring the stories of my stars and stripes, I symbolize the soul of America, her ideas and aspirations, her institutions and traditions. [Remove the folded flag.] Narrator: This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the symbol of our purity, our power and our purpose as a nation. [Two or more girls unfold the flag, attach it to the pole & stand at attention.] Narrator: Please join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. [All say Pledge of Allegiance] Narrator: All Girl Scouts make the Girl Scout Sign and say the Girl Scout Promise [All Scouts say Promise.] Narrator: Color guard, post your colors. [Wait for flags to be posted.] Narrator: Color guard retreat. [Wait for color guard to return to their places.] [Dismiss all.] Recipe For An American Flag (version 2) Materials: 6 girls large pot 1 folded American flag 1 cup red "flag" 1 cup white stars (glitter) 1 cup blue "flag" 1 cup white "flag" a spoon Colors can be cut up construction paper, glitter, whatever. Fold a real American Flag & put it in the pot so it will be easy to remove once the "ingredients" have been added (standing on its side). Recite the following poem while "creating" the flag: Girl 1: We're going to fix for you a treat that's really grand And make for you a recipe - the greatest in the land. Girl 2: First we'll add a heaping cup of red for courage true (adds red) Girl 3: And then we'll add, for loyalty, a dash of heavenly blue. (adds blue) Girl 4: For purity, we'll sift in a cup of snowy white. (adds white) Girl 5: We'll sprinkle in a pinch of stars to make it come out right. (adds stars) Girl 6: We'll stir & stir and you will see that what we make is- ALL: OLD GLORY. (Pull flag out of pot & unfold. Hold up to say Pledge of Allegiance and a song.) ALL: Our flag is the most beautiful flag int he world, let us always be loyal to it. It is suggested that the six girls leave their places and stand in a horseshoe around the pot facing the group. All pull out the flag together. A spotlight is also nice. Flag Burning Ceremony Ceremoniously disposing of a flag that must be destroyed because it is no longer usable. Items needed: Old flag New flag Color Guard for each flag Blazing fire Begin as you would any flag ceremony: "Girl Scouts Attention" "Color Guard Attention" "Color Guard advance", carrying both flags in together (May be carried on a staff or the old one could be carried in folded.) "Girl Scouts the flag of your country." Sing patriotic song such as "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "The Children's Song", or "O Beautiful Banner" Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance Sing "The Star Spangled Banner", "America, the Beautiful", or "America" if desired. The old Color Guard removes the old flag from its staff and cuts out the field of blue. Taps can be hummed while the stripes and field are folded. When the humming ceases Old Glory is retired to the flames. After the flag has been completely burned, retire the new flag. Color Guard retire the flag Color guard dismissed Girl Scouts dismissed Ashes should be burried |
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