First color guard gig today.

[Sandbagger]

My color guard had its first gig today. We did a taps ceremony in Sanford, Maine for the Vet Center there.

The ceremony started with the USM color guard posting the colors (US Flag and POW/MIA flag). Veterans including those from WW2, Korea, Vietnam to today were in attendance.

Some of the veterans read poetry and then the attendees lit candles in remembrance. A few of the vets said impromptu words in remembrance of their lost friends. It was very touching.

Afterward, "Taps" was played and we retired the colors. We then immediately led a candlelight procession .5 miles to the vet center where there was a potluck dinner. The Vet Center staff presented the color guard with Vet Center challenge coins and, because the Vet Center team leader is a USM ROTC alumna, I gave her one of our school patches.

The event seemed to have an effect on my soldiers and so all in all I think it was a positive experience.

It seems a fitting ceremony considering the tragedies that occurred today.

[HWFG1]

That's awesome! I did my first (non-parade) for AFJROTC Friday. It was kind of stressful; I wasn't told I was Vice until right before we left to go to the ceremony, and, they didn't give us the right info on when to retrieve the colors, but, it went well. I did my second one Friday night too, for our final home football game of the year.

But it sounds like you guys had fun, and congratulations on a job well done!

[-BuLL-]

Originally Posted by HWFG1

It was kind of stressful; they didn't give us the right info on when to retrieve the colors, but, it went well.

As long as it isn't in the unit's control, the info/intel for Color/Honor Guards will usually never be right. That's one of the most important things I try to stress to my new color guards, is to just adapt to anything. Best of luck in the future.

[Sandbagger]

We have our 2nd gig on Vet's Day in Portland. My soldiers will be leading the formation followed by the rest of the ROTC cadets marching in column.

[HWFG1]

That's cool. I've gotta do 3 myself on Veteran's Day (if the Hurricane doesn't rain us out)

[Sandbagger]

Originally Posted by HWFG1

That's cool. I've gotta do 3 myself on Veteran's Day (if the Hurricane doesn't rain us out)

3? WOW!

Good luck. Do you pack all weather coats for just in case?

[HWFG1]

Yeah, we're sending out our Competition Color Guard to do a competition, and then, they, along with 18 other cadets (which disappoints me) will march in the local Veteran's Day Parade. But, our ASI had a Color Guard staying with him to go to two schools and the local Veteran's Day assembly, and I'm on that. I'm excited. By the end of the semester, I'll have done 7 or 8 Color Guards.

But, no, we don't. It's really weird. I guess it doesn't make much difference, because everything is inside, but, still. o.O And, thanks, good luck to you, too. Sounds like you guys did a lot better your first time around than we did.

[Sandbagger]

Originally Posted by HWFG1

Yeah, we're sending out our Competition Color Guard to do a competition, and then, they, along with 18 other cadets (which disappoints me) will march in the local Veteran's Day Parade. But, our ASI had a Color Guard staying with him to go to two schools and the local Veteran's Day assembly, and I'm on that. I'm excited. By the end of the semester, I'll have done 7 or 8 Color Guards.

But, no, we don't. It's really weird. I guess it doesn't make much difference, because everything is inside, but, still. o.O And, thanks, good luck to you, too. Sounds like you guys did a lot better your first time around than we did.

Thanks! Veteran's day went great. I'm about to post pics in another thread. I hope next semester I will be able to get the guard out to 7 or 8 events too.

[HWFG1]

That's cool! I dunno about where you live, but, if your instructors haven't done so, start advertising to do Color Guard for whatever reasons you can think of. It definitely helps. We've had 7 or 8 Color Guards this month (but, then again, four of those were Veterans Day assemblies)! But, like I said, it depends on where you live, too. A rural area won't have as much of a need for Color Guards as a city would.

[delSQUIDnore]

Do you guys have any tips for keeping the damn flag out your face while you're in competitions?