"How To"
Create and Train Your Color Guard Unit

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Securing    Parade    Functions

The securing of invitation to march in parades and to present the colors at other events is one of the most important ways that a Color Guard can gain recognition, secure new members, and also receive payment and donations that can go into a fund to buy flags, muskets, other equipment, as well as uniforms.

The first requirement is to have a group, however small, that is dressed uniformly and in good, clean, well fitting uniforms that are also colorful and authentic.   A four man front with muskets and flags that looks good and marches will is better than four ranks of men dressed in three different types of uniforms or nothing but tricorn hats and ordinary modern day civilian clothes.  It is also better to invest in flags rather than muskets after you have secured your initial two for guarding the National Colors.  Flags stand out in the breeze, and are more colorful, attract more attention from the parade viewers than a group of men carrying muskets, and six flags with poles are less expensive than six muskets.

However, once you become and established group, muskets that can be fired and are fired in proper volley fire at grave side ceremonies and other suitable occasions can be quite impressive.

I am not saying don't buy muskets, just buy them later.  Also, remember that having a musket firing unit means that you must know and follow all the state and local rules and regulations regarding their use.  Some Churches do not allow muskets or other weapons inside the building or in their Church graveyard.

Your first duty as an S.A.R. Color Guard either on the Chapter or the State Society level is to provide suitable Colors for S.A.R. events, especially the public ones where the general public are invited or at grave markings.

Contributions were made to our Color Guard by people who were impressed by our appearance.   Some of our flags were donated by individuals in memory of a member of their family, by service clubs to which some of our members belonged, and by individual S.A.R.'s and Chapters.

In Massachusetts, we do not charge the S.A.R. or D.A.R. for presenting the colors at their events, that is part of our job.  However, both organizations have helped us with contributions many times.

Have your members who are members of other service clubs or professional groups speak to the meeting planners of their organizations.  See if they want a group of four men to present the colors at a special meeting.  Most of the time they will say they like the idea but how much does it cost?   A donation will depend on the size of the group holding the meeting, the number of Color Guard members present, and the type of meeting.  A fee of $25-$50 for a small meeting with four men from the Color Guard and two flags and two muskets could be negotiated in many cases.  The opening ceremony of a convention or a professional society with drums, fifes, flags and eight to ten members marching in and staying through the National Anthem could earn $250-$350.  It gives a meeting planner something special to open his annual meeting or convention with and it gives us recognition as well as money.

Check the cities and towns in your vicinity that have parades on National holidays.   Find out who is on the parade committee.  It might not even be a city official although the local veteran's agent is usually the key person in many cities, but a local veterans group or a historical society may be the sponsor.  Ask to participate.  You may not get paid, but always ask.   The publicity may get you invitations to parades where you get paid for marching.   You should try to find a city where the people watching you are friendly and the parade committee treats you right.  Then go to that parade for several years in a row.  If you get paid, the amount depends on the number of people you have marching and how colorful you are.  In Massachusetts, we always march in certain towns on certain holidays.  Some even pay us to be there and we have fun as well.  Some don't pay us and we still march and have fun anyway.  Keep asking clubs, groups and cities for appearances.   You will soon find yourself well known.   If you are good, you will soon be in a position to pick and choose your parades.

Finally, remember to get copies of photographs and newspaper articles about your Color Guard and make a scrap book as it makes a good historical record.   Your historian and newsletter editor will love you and so will our National Magazine Editor.

Your Color Guard officers should always have some good small photographs to show the parade committee or event organizer what your Color Guard really looks like.   They would rather invite someone they know looks good than someone who says they look good but have never seen.