CEREMONIAL PROTOCOL
GUIDELINES
FOR
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES
May 19, 2010
CEREMONIAL PROTOCOL GUIDELINES for
NORTHERN VIRGINIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document contains recommendations that are offered as a helpful guide for those interested
law enforcement agencies that participate in ceremonies and other public events where such
protocols are utilized. These recommendations are intended to identify and share agreed-upon
best practices that will allow participating law enforcement agencies to be more consistent in
their practice of ceremonial protocols.
The impetus for this initiative came from the senior leadership from Northern Virginia’s law
enforcement community (its police chiefs and sheriffs). They engaged the directors of the area’s
three law enforcement training academies to research and make recommendations for best
practices for agencies’ ceremonial protocols with the goal of achieving consistent protocol
guidelines. Each academy, in turn, solicited interested subject matter experts to work on this
initiative.
The work group consisted of Lieutenant Ken Baine (Fairfax County Police Department Honor
Guard Commander), Officer Colin Dorrity (Metro Transit Police Department and an instructor at
the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy), and Captain Fred Miller (Prince
William County Criminal Justice Academy Director). Northern Virginia Criminal Justice
Training Academy Director Bill O’Toole provided the workgroup with background materials
and assisted the group with meeting facilitation and editorial assistance with the report. All
members of the work group conducted research and shared their professional expertise that led to
this agreed-upon set of recommendations for a consistent protocol to be followed by all law
enforcement agencies. Many of these recommendations came from the existing policies of both
the Fairfax County and Prince William County Police Departments. Officer Dorrity compiled all
of the information and authored this document on behalf of the workgroup.
As the work group examined existing practices (including many policies from agencies from
throughout the country), it became apparent that many law enforcement agencies either practiced
ceremonial protocols that mirrored those of the various military services or they followed more
traditionally “civilian” practices. Some agencies changed their practices from time to time
whenever a new member joined their Honor Guard team or their academy staff. What often was
missing, however, was consistency among agencies with regard to ceremonial practices. The
goal of this initiative, and for publishing these best practices in this document, was to achieve a
consistent protocol that would be applicable to the unique nature of law enforcement service
(i.e., a mostly uniformed service that is only quasi-military in some regards). The authors of this
document welcome any law enforcement agencies that are equally interested in achieving
consistent, professional, and respectful protocols to incorporate any of these recommendations
into their own agency policies.
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CEREMONIAL PROTOCOL GUIDELINES for
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Purpose:
Title 4 of the United States Code (also known as the United States Flag Code) provides
instructions pertaining to the manner in which proper respect should be shown to the American
flag. It also describes the conduct expected during the playing of the National Anthem and the
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. As it applies to civilian groups, and, therefore, to law
enforcement agencies, the Flag Code functions primarily as a guide to be followed voluntarily.
It provides some latitude in how civilian groups may render respect and honors to the flag by
stating that actions not specifically included in the Code may be deemed acceptable as long as
proper respect is shown. This latitude has often resulted in varying and sometimes inconsistent
practices among law enforcement agencies.
The paramilitary nature of Law Enforcement sometimes requires the need to render hand salutes
or other appropriate honors. The following recommendations are established to set uniform
standards among participating law enforcement agencies. They are based, in part, on Army,
Navy, and Marine Corps service regulations, recommendations from the United States Flag
Code, and from information gleaned after conducting surveys of various Law Enforcement
departmental protocols located within the United States. While some agencies adhere to drill
policy that is directly derived from the military, a majority of the agencies surveyed utilize an
approach that is a hybrid of military and civilian practices.
The following recommendations for saluting and courtesy are intended to provide consistent
direction for the correct behavior of members under normal conditions. These orders will not
apply during any situations where official police duties are being performed that require the
undivided attention of the member.
Appropriate Honors:
Appropriate honors are to be rendered primarily when the National Anthem is played, the
American Flag is presented, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, or during funeral details. Other
ceremonial purposes, such as retirement or promotion ceremonies, may dictate the need for
rendering appropriate honors.
Appropriate honors consist of either a hand salute or a “hand over heart” drill movement. A
hand salute will be rendered when a member is wearing a cover/hat and in uniform. A “hand
over heart” will be rendered when a member is not wearing a cover, whether in uniform or
civilian attire. Those not physically capable of rendering appropriate honors should turn toward
the flag or music if able to do so. Guidance for rendering each drill movement is given below.
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Indoors & Outdoors:
Typically, a member will remove his or her cover once indoors. Members are permitted to wear
a cover indoors if “under arms” (carrying a firearm in the course of duty), but this is primarily
recommended only if members are taking part in a ceremony such as promotion or graduation or
part of the honor/color guard. For the purposes of this memorandum, “indoors” shall be defined
as any structure that is designed to exist permanently that has a covered roof, such as a city
building. “Outdoors” shall be defined as presence outside of any structure, or presence inside a
structure that does not have a roof or is not designed to exist permanently, such as a sports
arena or a large pavilion tent. “Outdoors” is construed to include covered walks and shelters
open on the sides to weather.
Position of Attention:
1. All appropriate honors will only be rendered from the position of attention. To assume
this position bring your heels together smartly so that they are on the same line with the
toes pointing out equally, forming an angle of 45 degrees. Keep your legs straight without
locking your knees. Hold your body erect with your hips level, chest lifted and arched,
and your shoulders square and even.
2. Let your arms hang straight, without stiffness, along your sides with the back of hands
outward; curl your fingers so that the tips of the thumbs are alongside and touching the
first joint of your forefingers. Keep your thumbs straight and along the seams of your
trousers with all fingertips touching the trouser legs.
3. Keep your head erect, and hold it squarely to the front with your chin drawn in so that the
axis of your head and neck is vertical. Look straight to the front. Rest the weight of the
body equally on the heels and balls of your feet.
Hand Salute:
1. The hand salute is a three count movement. This means that the saluting member should
be able to count silently to three from start to finish of the movement. The command is
“PRESENT ARMS.” On the command of execution, “ARMS,” raise the right hand to the hat
and, with the tip of the forefinger, touch the rim of the visor slightly to the right of the
right eye. The fingers and thumb are extended and joined, palm down. The outer edge of
the hand is barely canted downward. The upper arm is horizontal.
2. The command to cease the salute and return to the position of attention is “ORDER
ARMS.” “ORDER ARMS” from this position is a one count movement. On the command
of execution, “ARMS”, return the hand to the side and resume the position of attention.
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3. A hand salute is only rendered with the right hand. If you are not part of a formation or
detail, turn your head and eyes toward the anthem or flag as the hand salute is rendered.
If you are part of a formation or detail, remain at the position of attention in that
formation or detail.
Hand Over Heart:
1. The hand over heart is a three count movement. This means that the saluting member
should be able to count silently to three from start to finish of the movement. The
command is “PRESENT ARMS.” On the command of execution, “ARMS,” raise the right
hand across the chest with your fist unclenched. Place your hand, palm down, over the
heart. All four fingertips should cover the left breast. The upper arm will be at an angle
that is roughly forty-five degrees.
2. The command to cease the salute and return to the position of attention is “ORDER
ARMS.” On the command of execution, “ARMS”, return the hand to the side and resume
the position of attention.
3. A hand over heart is only rendered with the right hand. If you are not part of a formation
or detail, turn your head and eyes toward the anthem or flag as the hand salute is
rendered. If you are part of a formation or detail, remain at the position of attention
where you are.
Guidance for Master of Ceremonies:
The presentation of the colors should always be the first activity at the start of ceremonies. The
presentation of the colors should precede all invocations, introductions, opening remarks, etc.
The National Anthem may be either sung or played via recording or instrument. If the Pledge of
Allegiance is to be recited, it always follows the National Anthem.
The following script is recommended for anyone acting as Master of Ceremonies at an official
function:
“Would everyone please rise for the presentation of the colors by the (insert appropriate
departmental title here) Honor Guard? Immediately after the presentation of the colors, the
National Anthem will be (played) or (sung by [singer’s name]). Please also remain standing for
the singing or playing of the National Anthem.”
If desired, you may also provide this additional instruction: “Those not physically
capable of standing or saluting should turn towards the flag or music if able to do so.”
(The reason the instruction to rise for the presentation of colors should be phrased as a
request is that there is no legal requirement for those in attendance to do so.)
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Guidance for Audiences:
In order to avoid confusion among any members of the audience at an official function, it is
recommended that the following written instructions be inserted in programs or handed out at
ceremonies:
For indoor ceremonies— “During the presentation of colors and the playing or singing of
the National Anthem and/or in response to the command of “present arms,” individuals should
place their right hand over their heart.”
For outdoor ceremonies— “During the playing or singing of the National Anthem and/or
in response to the command of “present arms,” individuals in uniform and covered should render
a hand salute. All others should place their right hand over their heart.”
Funeral Detail:
1. If a formal detail is present at any funeral, the following recommendations apply:
2. At funeral details the officer/supervisor in charge shall command the detail as a unit in
presenting arms.
3. At the passing of the casket (when it is flag-draped) the hand salute will be rendered on
command of the officer in charge.
4. In Paragraphs 1 and 2 above, the order “PRESENT ARMS” will be given prior to the casket
passing in front of the first officer in the formation. The salute will be held until the
casket passes the last officer or has reached its destination (building, hearse, or gravesite).
At this time, the command “ORDER ARMS” will be given by the officer in charge.
5. In addition to the casket, salutes shall be rendered to the nearest surviving relative of the
officer, using the same guidelines established in Paragraph 3.
6. At funeral details where an urn accompanied by a folded flag is present, the detail shall
render the same honors as for a flag-draped casket.
Additional Guidance:
1. Whenever the National Anthem is played to accompany raising or lowering of the colors,
and members are not in a formation or not in a vehicle, they should come to the position
of attention and face the colors. Render the appropriate honors at the first note of the
National Anthem. Hold the salute until the last note of the National Anthem. Remain
standing at attention until the American flag has been fully raised or lowered. If in a
vehicle and in the immediate vicinity, members should stop their vehicles, lower the
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volume of their radio, and remain where they are until the American flag is fully raised or
lowered.
2. When the flag is passing in parade or in review or when passing or being passed by an
uncased color which is being paraded, presented or on formal display, members will
render the prescribed salute at six paces distance, and hold the salute until six paces
beyond it or until it has passed by six paces. Occasions such as these fall under the same
guidelines as the “presentation of the colors.”
3. Small flags carried by individuals, such as those carried by spectators at celebrations,
ceremonies, and parades, are not saluted.
4. The marks of respect shown above are also rendered to the National Anthem of any
country when played upon official occasions.
5. A hand over heart is the appropriate honor during the Pledge of Allegiance for all
uniformed and civilian members, except members of specific duty details such as Honor
Guard, Bugler, etc.
6. For those situations that may arise during an occasion and are not specifically addressed
in this document, the officer / supervisor in charge will direct members under their
supervision as to the appropriate courtesy to be rendered.
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