Compatriots,
Training events are a great opportunity to get out of the house during the winter and enjoy some camaraderie with your compatriots.
March
18th - Flag Folding, Presentation, & Color Guard Training
Location: United Methodist Church, 11902 Old Shelbyville Rd, Middletown, KY
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The color guard is the most prominent interface between the SAR and the public. As we approach the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution our color guards will become even more prominent. Whenever a SAR color guard participates in public events, our uniforms, flags, and weaponry always draw attention from the spectators. Therefore, it is important that our color guards not only represent the society to the best of their ability, but do so in a safe and responsible manner.
The purpose of the training is twofold: 1) ensure our color guard events are conducted in a safe manner and 2) standardize the practices of the various color guards across the state. Everyone wants to be safe at our events so the safety component of the training is crucial. Furthermore, SAR color guards are most impressive when there is uniformity in their commands and movements. The only way in which this uniformity can be achieved is through a standardized color guard training program for the various chapters across the state. When various chapters come together for an event, the standardized training will allow all the color guard members to know in advance what they will be doing and how they will be doing it. This will greatly simplify the organization of the color guard before an event and impress the members of the public attending the event.
The material covered will focus on both rifle/musket men, flag bearers and other activities that a color guard could perform. Below are the topics to be covered.
- Safe handling and firing of flintlocks
- Basic flintlock drills
- shoulder and order firelocks,
- firing sequence, and
- secure firelock.
- Manner in which the colors and standards will be carried
- Flag folding ceremony
- Wreath presentations and giving of honors along with an armed escort
Videos for the rifle drills we will be practicing can be found on the Gov. Isaac Shelby chapter website at
http://gissar.org/pages/awards.htm#drills. Please review the videos prior to the training sessions if you are able. If time allows, we could add more advanced drills to this training session.
It is not necessary to own a flintlock to participate in the flintlock training. If you think at some point you will be obtaining a flintlock of your own, or you just want to know how to handle one, you are welcome to join in the flintlock training. We will have two non-firing Brown Bess flintlocks and several wooden rifles available for use during the training.
We hope to see you at one of the training sessions.
