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Reveille and Retreat: Presenting proper honors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samantha Krolikowski
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  You're walking out of the gym and hear music begin to play. What is that sound and what do you do?

If it's early in the morning, you will hear the sound of Reveille followed by "To the Color" at 7 a.m. If it's the evening, "Retreat," followed by the national anthem, will play at 5 p.m. When outside on base and the first note of Reveille or Retreat begins, there are proper procedures to follow.

"We're taught from the beginning, on the first sound of music, for Reveille or Retreat, to go to parade rest," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Gary, 92nd Comptroller Squadron superintendent.

Military personnel should stand at attention and face the American flag, or the direction of the music if the flag is not visible. Military personnel and veterans who are present but not in uniform may salute when outdoors or stand at parade rest. Continue to stand at attention and hold the salute until the last note of the music.

Civilians should stand at attention and place their right hand - with a hat if they're wearing one - over their heart. All vehicles on military installations should come to a complete stop and wait until the last note of the music stops. Military members in their vehicles should sit at attention. Base guidance is to turn off any music playing in the vehicle.

According to Air Force Instruction 34-1201, 8.1.6.4 & 2.21, when indoors and in uniform, face the flag and stand at attention when the national anthem or "To the Color" is played. 

"We're paying respect to all those who served before us and after us," Gary said. "It's part of our tradition, customs and courtesies. We're one Air Force family and we need to pay respects to all of our counterparts."

Former President Woodrow Wilson once said, "This flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours. It floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us -- speaks to us of the past, of the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote upon it."

For more information on Reveille, Retreat and proper protocol, refer to AFI 34-1201.