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***image1***At precisely 4:30 p.m. on the last duty day of this month the Ramstein Honor Guard will participate in the time-honored ceremony of lowering and folding the U.S. flag.
It will be a formal affair with the Honor Guard in careful formation and a narrator saying a few words. “A flag is more than just a piece of cloth. A flag represents all that is great about our country,” the narrator might say.
The Honor Guard will remove the flag from the flagstaff and fold it 13 times, representing the 13 original colonies. Its triangle shape will represent the tri-corner hat worn by the Patriots of the American Revolution.
For those watching retreat at Ramstein, the ceremony may evoke strong emotions as either recorded music or the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band plays.
The ceremony takes a short time. And everyone, military and civilians, are encouraged to take part in the important custom, said Col. Glen Apgar, 86th Airlift Wing vice commander.
Retreat signals the end of the duty day. But, it’s more than that, he said.
“This is an important part of our military customs and courtesies,” Colonel Apgar said. “It recognizes history, traditions and those heroes who paid so dearly for the privileges we enjoy.”
At Ramstein, commanders chose the last duty day of the month to set aside time to show respect for the flag. Retreat is held in front of the 86th AW Headquarters building, located just before the flightline.
Air Force customs and courtesies, Air Force Manual 36-2203, “Drill and Ceremonies,” prescribes that uniformed servicemembers who are outside during the ceremony, face the flag or the music in the parade rest position. As the flag is being lowered, servicemembers should salute on the first note of the national anthem and hold the salute to the end of the song.
Civilians should also stop, remove their hats and place their right hand over their heart. All drivers and vehicle passengers in the area should pull over and sit quietly.
“The Drill and Ceremonies instruction, AFMAN states, ‘The retreat ceremony serves a twofold purpose. It signals the end of the official duty day and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to the flag,’” said Master Sgt. Vito Logiudice, Superintendent of Ramstein Honor Guard. “Through the retreat ceremony we honor those who have gone before us fighting for what the flag represents, our freedom.”
