Every morning at 8:00 am at every command all over the world there is something done called colors. It is simply the raising of the American Flag. The only places this is not done are ship underway at sea and the South Pole when it totally dark.

Some commands play the Star Spangled Banner, while others use a whistle to signal the start and end of colors. There is a 5 minute warning before the flag is raised. This allows persons taking part in working parties to get to a good stopping point.

On our ship there would be a whistle blow to start colors. Every person on deck would turn toward the stern of the ship and if in uniform, render a hand salute. If in civilian clothing you would stop and turn toward the flag. The only person not required to stop are those driving.

You turn, salute the flag, and wait for the end of the anthem or the double whistle. There is even a certain way the flag is raised. During morning colors the flag is to be risen quickly to the top of the flag pole.

At night colors is different. The flag is lowered, but this is done at the official time of dusk as noted on your Plan of the Day. Persons must observe evening colors just as they would morning colors, turn and salute or stop and face. The flag is lowered slowly at night colors. Then the flag is folded in a proper manner after colors is over.