Flag Break and Flag Lowering
A ceremony to start and end the day
A flag on land should not fly at night unless it is fully illuminated. At camp, I suggest holding the flag break ceremony before breakfast. This is a good way to get everyone up and going. A large event such as a camporee, flag break should take place before the start of the morning's activities. The flag should be lowered at sunset. In the summer, this can be after dinner as part of gathering for the evening's activities.
A recitation of the Promise and Law can happen after flag break or lowering or both. When these are recited, one must be at alert, making the Scout Sign, and facing forward (i.e. not towards the flag, as for during the flag break or lowering).
A colour party usually consists of two Scouts, who will be referred to as Scout A and Scout B. Scout A is the leader of the Colour Party. For flag break, you may choose to have only one Scout in the colour party. For special ceremonies, such as a district camp, it may be desirable to have a larger Colour Party which will parade around to the flag with their troop's flag.
These ceremonies are written assuming that the Scouts are wearing hats. If the Scouts are not wearing hats, just ignore the parts of the ceremony that mention them.
Flag Break
Scoutmaster makes the signal for the horseshoe to form.
- Scoutmaster
- Colour Party to Flag.
The Colour Party starts to come around the horseshoe travelling clockwise.
- Scoutmaster
- Troop Alert; face the flag.
Wait until the Colour Party has arrived and Scout A has untied the halyards
Report halyards.
- Scout A
- Halyards all clear, Scouter!
- Scoutmaster
- Break the flag. Waits for flag to unfurl. Troop salute.
Everyone salutes the flag. The Scout A takes one step back then salutes. They should now be standing next to Scout B. There is a brief pause, then the Scoutmaster puts their hand down and everyone else follows.
- Scoutmaster
- Troop face front.
The Colour Party returns to its place, walking clockwise around the horseshoe.
The Promise and Law may be recited.
Troop at ease.
The rest of the horseshoe business takes place.
Troop, break off.
Flag Lowering
Scoutmaster makes the signal for the horseshoe to form. The closing horseshoe business takes place.
- Scoutmaster
- Colour Party to Flag.
The Colour Party starts to come around the horseshoe travelling clockwise.
- Scoutmaster
- Troop Alert; face the flag.
Scout B drops onto their right knee by the pole, removes their hat, and sets it on their left knee. Scout A unties the halyards.
- Scoutmaster
- Report halyards.
- Scout A
- Halyards all clear, Scouter!
- Scoutmaster
- Troop, hats off. Lower the flag.
Everyone removes their hats. Scout A slowly lowers the flag which is gathered by Scout B in their hat. Scout B rises for Scout silence. The Colour Party stays out of the way at the front of the horseshoe until the Troop starts to file out.
- Scoutmaster
- Troop face in; Scout silence.
Silence is held. A Scouter's Five may be said and/or the Promise and Law may be recited.
Troop, hats on. Hats are put on. File off.
The Scouts file out clockwise around the front of the horseshoe shaking the hand of each Scouter as they pass by. The Colour Party should fold the flag then file past the Scouters.
Note
At a large gathering, it would be unfeasible for all the Scouts to shake the hands of those at the front of the horseshoe. In this case, the Scoutmaster will say, "Break off" instead of "File off." If the flag is being lowered in the evening at camp, the Scoutmaster will also tell the troop to "Break off".
Flying Flags at Half-Mast
If a troop is in official mourning, it will fly its flag at half-mast. After the flag is broken, the Scoutmaster says, "Bring flag to half-mast". The flag is slowly lowered, normally to one-third of the way from the top of the mast. At flag lowering, the flag is brought up to the top of the mast and then down.
