Flag Knowledge (Color Guard)
What was the original version of the National Anthem called?
"Defense of Fort McHenry" (it was a poem but was later renamed to the "Star Spangled Banner"
How long is the US flag flown at half-staff after the death of a vice president?
10 days
in what year were the Stars and Stripes created?
1777
When was "Stars & Stripes Forever" published?
1898
What are streamers?
Long narrow ribbons displayed from the top of the flag staff
What is the name given to the flag when it is folded into a triangle?
The Cocked Hat
How are flags flown when a center point is established?
The US flag is centered at the hightest
What is the grommet?
The eyelet through which the halyard is fastened to the flag.
How is the US flag positioned at half-staff?
The flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then slowly lowered to the middle
How is the US flag lowered from half-staff?
The flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff then lowered slowly to the bottom
How many stars should be showing when the flag is folded into the cocked hat?
13
When did the continental congress establish the stars and stripes flag as the National flag?
14 June 1778
When did the "Star Spangled Banner" become the National Anthem of the United States?
1931
how large is the Garrison flag, and when is it flown?
20 feet by 38 feet. it is flown on holidays and important occasions.
Upon the death of a former president, how long may a flag be displayed at half staff?
30 days
how large is the Storm flag, and when is it flown?
5 feet by 9 feet, 6 inches. it is flown during inclement weather.
What are the heights for federal flag poles?
50ft, 60ft, 75ft
how many white stripes are there?
6
How many red stripes are there?
7
how large is the Post flag, and when is it flown?
8 feet, 11 3/8 inches by 17 feet. it is flown for general display.
What is the Flag Code?
A guideline for proper flag etiquette.
What is the band?
A narrow strip of canvas along the edge of the flag that goes next to the staff. Sometimes called the "heading."
What does the flag being positioned at half-staff mean?
A sign of national mourning
Who is given credit for sewing the first US flag?
Betsy Ross
What is Retreat?
Ceremony of lowering the flag, "Retreat" and "To The Colors" are played during Retreat
What is Reveille?
Ceremony of raising the flag
What were the thirteen colonies?
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia
How is the US flag displayed when placed on a wall?
Either horizontally or vertically, with the union to the upper most and to the flag's own right
What is the arrangement of the Stars on the American Flag?
Five rows of six each and four rows of five stars each, alternating
What are several names used to describe the US flag?
Flag, Color. Standard, Ensign
What are Colors?
Flags of organizations and certain military officials. "National Colors" refers to the American Flag. The term "Colors" is traditionally used by dismounted units.
Where is the US flag flown 24 hours a day?
Fort McHenry, Maryland; Flaghouse Square, Baltimore; The Capitol and the Marine Corps Memorial
Who wrote the "Defense of Fort McHenry" and When?
Francis Scott Key in 1814
what are the three types of flags flown on military instillations?
Garrison, Post and Storm
How are flags and pennants flown when hoisted?
In order of precedence, with the US flag on top.
What is the proper way to display the flag?
It should be hanging free with the stars to the marching right
Who authored the United States' March?
John Philip Sousa
What are two ways you can reverse directions on a color guard?
Left about and colors reverse
How is the US flag placed on a casket?
Lengthwise over the casket with the Union over the head and left shoulder of the deceased.
Who is authorized to have a US flag over their casket at a military funeral?
Members of the active military force, national guard, reserve, honorably discharged veterans, and retired military.
Are the colors ever dipped as a salute or compliment?
Never on land, only at sea when two friendly ships of war meet.
Can a color guard perform an "about face"?
No, because the flag must always be in the Position of Honor on the right side
What does "Old Glory" refer to?
Refers to the U.S. flag. This famous name may have been coined in 1831. Some friends presented Capt. William Driver with a 24-star flag. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze, he exclaimed, "Old Glory!"
What is the national march of the United States?
Stars and Stripes Forever
What are Standards?
Terms used by mounted units in reference to "Colors"
What is the name of the shiny piece located at the bottom of the staff?
The Ferrule
What is the rope called that is used to raise the flag?
The Halyard or Hoist Rope
What is the Union?
The blue rectangle on the US Flag containing the fifty stars.
What is the flag head or finial?
The decorative ornament on top of the flag staff or flag pole
What does "the flags own right" mean?
The flags own right-the flag is always accorded the right side from its perspective
When the US flag is flown in a group of two or more nations or states fly them from separate flagstaffs of the same height, what else should be the same?
The flags should be of similar size.
What is the fly of the flag?
The fly of the flag is the width (horizontal edge) of the flag, measured from left to right
What is the peak?
The highest point a flag can be raised.
What is the hoist of a flag?
The hoist of a flag is the length (vertical edge) of the flag, measured from top to bottom
What is the "Position of Honor"?
The right side, the highest point, or in front of
What is a flag staff?
The staff on which a flag is mounted
Why would a flag be flown upside down?
To signal an emergency or distress
what does the color blue represent on the US flag?
Vigilance, perseverence, justice, reverence to God, and loyalty
Where is the US flag carried in a procession?
When carried in a procession with other flags the US flag is carried on the marching right, or front and center when marching in a line.Ho
When is the only time the flag can be flown during hours of darkness?
When it is properly illuminated
When should the US flag be saluted?
When it is raised or lowered; when the flag passes by you in parade; when in uniform the flag passes you, present your salute six paces before the flag approaches you and hold it until six steps after the flag has passed you
When and how do you dispose of the US flag?
When the flag is no longer suitable for display, it is destroyed, preferably by burning
Can you move a color guard in a column?
Yes, provided the American flag is in front of all other flags
what does the color red represent on the US flag?
hardiness and valor
what does the color white represent on the US flag?
hope, purity, and innocence
What do the 13 stripes represent?
the 13 original colonies
What do the 50 stars on the US flag represent?
the 50 states
What does the term National Colors refer to?
the American Flag
what only two flags can be flown over the US flag?
the USN church pennant flying while high sea and during services and the United Nations flag in New York at UN headquarters.
What is the Truck?
the ball at the top of the flag pole
What is the US flag's position in an auditorium or chapel?
to the speaker's right or the audience's left
