Color Guard Training – Louisville, KY

This training is open to all SAR members, so please forward this message to members or your chapter who would like to learn more about being in a color guard or improve their color guard skills.  The training will cover all levels of color guard experience, from the beginner to the experienced color guardsman, so again all members are welcome.

The venue is the gym at the Middletown United Methodist Church located at 11902 Old Shelbyville Rd in Middletown, KY.  Please come if you are able.  RSVP to myself at stgilt@earthlink.net .

Attached are maps providing the location of the church and the gym.

There will be morning and afternoon training sessions.  You may attend one or both of the sessions depending on your interests and availability.

The morning session will focus on drilling with flintlock firearms and the various duties of the rifle/musket squad in a ceremony. We will also cover the safe handling and firing of the flintlocks.  Videos for the rifle drills we will be practicing can be found on the GIS chapter website at http://gissar.org/pages/awards.html#drills .  The specific drills we will be covering are:

• formal safety check
• shoulder and order firelocks,
• firing sequence,
• mourn arms, and
• secure firelock.

Please review the videos prior to the 28th if you are able.  If time allows, we could add more advanced drills to this training session.

It is not necessary to own your own 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.

The afternoon session will cover the following:

• manner in which the colors and standards will be carried,
• positioning of the musicians and riflemen with the colors and standards,
• commands for marching, posting of the colors, and saluting of the American flag,
• conduct and disposition of various members of the color guard during the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance,
• flag folding ceremony,
• wreath presentations and giving of honors along with an armed escort.

All the training will be conducted indoors, so weather will not be an issue.  If we happen to have exceptionally nice weather we could move outside, but regardless, this is a rain or shine event.  We will be having a lunch break and there is a designated eating area in the gym with tables.  You can bring your lunch if you like or there are several fast-food restaurants nearby if you prefer to purchase your lunch.

Uniforms are not required for either of the training sessions, however, please bring your hat as it will be useful for practicing the salutes.

If you have any questions regarding the training, please let me know.  I look forward to seeing all of you at the training sessions.

February

28th - Musket/Rifle Drill Training

Location: Middletown United Methodist Church, 11902 Old Shelbyville Rd, Middletown, KY

Time: 9:30 a.m. to noon

28th - Flag Folding, Presentation, & Color Guard Training

Location: Middletown United Methodist Church, 11902 Old Shelbyville Rd, Middletown, KY

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The end time for the morning session and the start time for the afternoon session are approximate.  Once we feel we have adequately addressed the training in the morning, we will break for lunch and then go into the afternoon session.  The end time for the afternoon session is approximate as well.  Attendees are welcome to stay longer if they wish to get individual or more in-depth training.

Please join us for this training.  We look forward to seeing you on the 28th of February.

In Patriotic Service,

Scott Giltner

State Color Guard Commander

Kentucky SAR