"How To"
Create and Train Your Color Guard Unit

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Commands   for   Posting   the   Colors

In 1775, at a time when our country was striving for independence and existence, our forefathers were confronted with the problem of not only establishing a government but also of organizing an army which was already engaged in war.  Until Valley Forge in 1778, our forces appeared to be little more than a group of civilians fighting Indian-style against the well-trained, highly disciplined Redcoats.

Recognizing the crisis that existed, General Washington, through Benjamin Franklin, our Ambassador to France, enlisted the aid of a Prussian officer Baron von Steuben.   He said upon his arrival, "No European army could be kept together in such a state."   To correct the conditions, he wrote drill movements and regulations at night and taught them the following day.  As the troops mastered the art of drill, they began to work as a team and a sense of pride in themselves and their unit developed.

To insure continuity of uniformity, von Steuben, by then a Major General and our first Inspector General, wrote our first field manual in 1779, The Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States.

The methods and practices of Baron von Steuben can be utilized by NSSAR Color Guards at NSSAR meeting where a Posting an Retiring of the Colors can add dignity to a ceremony.

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Most drill commands have two parts, known as the preparatory command and the command of execution.

All commands or directives are shown in capital letters.  For ease in distinguishing a preparatory command from a command of execution, the preparatory commands are shown in italics, the commands of execution are shown in bold print.

The preparatory command states the movement to be carried our and mentally prepares the individual for it's execution.  In the command Forward, March, the preparatory command is Forward.  The command of execution tells when the movement is to be carried our.  In Forward, March, the command of execution is March.

Quite often Color Guardsmen come from distant places and have little chance to practice.  A good rule is, "Keep it Simple!"  As more Color Guardsmen read these few procedures and in time they become experts, just like the Baron's troops, they will begin to work as a team and a sense of pride in themselves and their unit will develope.

When preforming at Congress or Trustees meetings, the time and place to practice is in the hallway outside the banquest room, while the delegates are have their "Happy Hour."

While waiting for the call from the President General, the Guardsmen form two columns, then:

The Commader (CDR) states: Color Guard, Advance (down the aisle toward the head table)

From the front the Commander calls:
In Place, March;
Column A, March;
Column Right, March;
Column Left, March;
Column Left, March;
Column, Halt;
Left, Face

The Commander calls:
Column B, March
Column Left, March;
Column Right, March;
Column Right, March;
Column, Halt;
Right, Face

The Commander to President General:  Permission to Post the Colors?
President General:  Permission granted to Post the Colors.

The Commander calls:
Colors Post
(Simultaneously the U.S. Color and NSSAR Color bearers march with a series of Right and Left, Turns to stands at the ends of the head table, post the Colors; and reversing their procedure, march back to their place in line.)

Upon completion of posting, the Commander calls:
Column A, Left, Face
Forward, March;
Column Left, March;
Column Left, March;
Column Left, March;
(when they are once again at the front of main aisle)In Place, March

The Commander calls:
Column B, Right, Face
Forward, March;
Column Right, March;
Column Right, March;
Column Right, March;
(when they are even with Column A)In Place, March

The Commander calls:
Color Guard, March as they leave the room.

Single   Column   Posting   the   Colors

The preparations for the small single column Color Guard are the same as the full double column Color Guard.

The Guardsmen form one column then:

The Commander (CDR) calls: Color Guard, Advance (down the aisle toward the head table)

From the front the Commander calls:
Column Right, March;
Column Left, March;
Column Left, March;
Column, Halt;
(the members halt, spacing themselves evenly) Column Left, Face;

The Commander to President General:  Permission to Post the Colors?
President General:  Permission granted to Post the Colors.

The Commander calls:
Colors Post
(Simultaneously the U.S. Color and flag bearers march with a series of Right and Left, Turns to stands at the ends of the head table, post the Colors; and reversing their procedure, march back to their place in line.)

Upon completion of posting, the Commander calls:
Column Left, Face
Forward, March;
Column Left, March;
Column Left, March;
Column Right, March;
(they exit the room)

NOTE:  The configuration of the room, placement of the head and other tables, aisles available, the number of Color bearers, a Sergeant Major, the number of muskets and the number of Color Guard members will require adjustments in the above procedures.  It is possible that a Color Guard which preforms regularly, could memorize the steps and the voice commands would not be used.