Posting and Retiring the colors at squadron

[Cadet Idoni]

I am wondering if there are any things that people do at their squadrons when posting and retiring the colors and squadron flag.  Does anyone do it when in formation and starting a meeting?  or stay in formation when retiring them at the end of a meeting?  Cause we just get them at the beginning and post them (without any sort of ceremony) and at the end assign duties (such as getting the flags, sign-in boards and checking the latrines). 

Just wondering if I should bring this up the chain to kind of instill it as a part of the meeting.

Thanks C/SrA Idoni

[Extremepredjudice]

In my squadron, room is called to attention, color guard posts colors, then someone is asked to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

At the end, room is called to attention, color guard retrieves, end meeting.

[Cadet Idoni]

My squadron does not have a color guard yet.  But we have a moderately sized squadron 12 cadets 14 SM's.  And also do the regs say you need to say the pledge of allegiance at the beginning or is that just something you do as a sign of respect?

[Extremepredjudice]

We just do it.

Starting a color guard would definitely be something you should bring up with your SMs. It'd A. show more respect to the flag. B. give you guys the opportunity to win trophies (wing color guard comp.) and C. Allow you to use it as a recruiting tool by posting colors at local events.

[PHall]

At my squadron we have a flag pole outside the building and we post the colors at the beginning of the meeting and retire the colors at the end of the meeting.
All members, both cadet and senior are in formation and render the appropriate honors.
Opening formation starts the meeting and closing formation ends the meeting. Been doing that way for years.

[argentip]

As a former MI-075 member, welcome to CAPTalk.

Sounds like your opening ceremony is the same as it was back in the late 90's when I was a cadet there.  If you want to form a Color Guard and post the Colors, it would be good practice.  Hopefully the SMs that are there now would be open to the idea.  The Pledge of Allegience is not recited while in formation.

I agree that forming a Color Guard is a good thing.  We used to have one, but then the squadron became very Drill Team-centric.  This is great until the squadron is asked to provide a Color Guard for a parade or ceremony and no one hows to do it properly.  It doesn't hurt to take a Drill Team to competition, but also have members that can serve as a Color Guard when needed.

[jimmydeanno]

Are you the only residents of your meeting place?  If so, why not leave them up?

I seem to recall that military tradition is that the unit's flag is posted when a unit is formed at a location, and taken down when the unit is disbanded or relocated.

Using that logic, it seems to be a symbol of permanence and ownership over a specific area, and by taking it down each time it makes your unit somewhat temporary in the symbolism.

I like pointing at our unit flag and saying that it's been posted there for the last 40 years.

[Slim]

Are you the only residents of your meeting place?  If so, why not leave them up?

They meet in the cafeteria/basement of a county administration building.

At my unit, we store them posted in their stands, in our corner of the common office area next to our filing cabinet.  We meet in an Army Reserve center, and the senior staff office is also used by the various units that meet there;no one unit in particular "owns" it, but it's available for whoever needs it.  It's a large room, with a cubicle farm, conference table, and a couple of side offices.  At the beginning of the meeting, the cadets get the flags, move them to the room they meet in (a joint use conference room), and move them back at the end.