Ceremony for New Troop Flag

[kromine]

I've seen a couple of ceremonies for retiring a troop flag; wondering if any one has one for a new troop flag for a new troop.

 

Any assistance is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[CalicoPenn]

I've never seen a ceremony for a new Troop flag so be creative.

 

Since it's a new Troop, you might have the institutional head and/or the chartered organization rep on hand to present the Troop with it's new flag. Maybe do this at a Court of Honor or other meeting with parents in attendance, before doing the opening flag ceremony. The IH/COR could welcome the new Troop, hand the SPL (Note - the SPL (or most senior lad if you don't have an SPL) and not the CC/SM or other adult - I think symbolically that's important - it reinforces for everyone, the Chartering Organization, the Adult Leaders, the Parents and the Scouts that the Troop is for the boys) the folded Troop flag, who then walks down the aisle, mounts it to it's pole and then leads the Opening Flag Ceremony with their brand new flags.

 

Do you have a local American Legion Hall or VFW? Since you have a new Troop flag, it's likely you have a new US flag as well - maybe they could provide a color guard to do your "first" flag ceremony with the new flags, presenting the flags to the Troop.

 

Do you have friendly relations with some Troops in the area? Maybe one of them can present the flag, welcoming the new Troop into the fold.

 

Here's an idea - ask the boys what they think would be a good ceremony.

[eisely]

The closest thing I have seen to this is the activation of a new artillery battalion in 1966 to which I was assigned. The battalion was formed up on the parade ground and a separate color guard brought both the US and battalion colors in, cased. The colors were then uncased. The post commander took the colors from the color guard and passed them, one at a time, to the battalion commander, who in turn handed them to a color guard of troops from the new battalion. After that we passed in review and were done.

[SSScout]

My home Troop is approaching it's 60th year. They bought a new Troop flag just last year, so that was the third flag. They had one for Indoors (the oldest) and one for Outdoors( the youngest). The oldest (indoor) was a cotton wool blend, the youngest (outdoor) was a modern nylon flag. The oldest looked it, very faded, pulled crooked from being on the pole for so long a time. We had a short ceremony at a CoH to acknowledge the longevity of the Troop and the stories this old flag might tell.

It occured to me (being the oldest Scout person in attendance) that it would have been a neat thing to have had the old Scoutmasters' signatures on the flag's halyard strip. Keep in mind future history, maybe have your first SM sign the flag.