pennant (called PREP) is hoisted. Ceremonies forcolors begin when PREP is hauled to the dip (thehalfway point).Navy ships not under way also hoist and lower theunion jack on the jackstaff, at the ship’s bow, and atmorning and evening colors. The union jack is alsoflown from a yardarm to denote that a generalcourts-martial or court of inquiry is in session. Theunion jack is the rectangular blue part of the UnitedStates flag containing the stars (fig. 9-8).If a band is available for color ceremonies,“Attention” is sounded, followed by the band playingthe national anthem. At morning colors, hoisting theensign begins when the music starts. It is hoistedsmartly to the top of the flagstaff. At evening colors,lowering of the ensign also starts at the beginning of themusic. Hoisting and lowering of the ensign arecompleted at the last note of the music. The national flagis always hoisted smartly and lowered ceremoniously.“Carry on” is sounded at the completion of the music.If a band is not available for colors, “To the Colors”is played on the bugle at morning colors, and “Retreat”is played at evening colors. For ships without a band or abugler, “Attention” and “Carry on” are signals forbeginning and terminating the hand salute.Sometimes the music for colors from another U.S.ship can be overheard aboard your ship. When thishappens, and no band or bugler is aboard your ship, thecommand to “Carry on” should not be given until themusic being overheard is completed.After morning colors, if foreign warships arepresent, the national anthem of each countryrepresented is also played. If your ship is visiting aforeign country, the national anthem of that country isplayed immediately following morning colors,followed by the national anthems of any other foreignnations represented. You should show the same respectfor national anthems of foreign countries as you do forour own.On Sundays, authorized holidays, and other daysproclaimed by the President, the largest national ensignin the ship’s or station’s allowance is flown. This ensignis referred to as holiday colors. When the holiday colorsare flown on a Navy ship not under way, the union jackflown is the same size as the blue field in the holidaycolors.Ships that are under way do not hold morning orevening colors because the ensign usually is flown dayand night. Just as the ship gets under way, the ensign isshifted from its in-port position on the stern to its at-seaposition at the mainmast. This is called shifting thecolors.HALF-MASTING THE ENSIGNNational flags flown at half-mast (or half-staffashore) are an internationally recognized symbol ofmourning. The United States honors its war dead onMemorial Day by half-masting the flag from 0800 untilthe last gun of a 21-minute-gun salute that begins atnoon (until 1220 if no gun salute is rendered).Normally, the flag is half-masted on receivinginformation of the death of one of the officials or officerslisted in U.S. Navy Regulations. Notification may bereceived through news media reports or by an officialmessage.In half-masting an ensign already flying at the peakor truck aboard ships under way, lower it ceremoniouslyto half-mast. If the ensign is not flying, hoist it smartlyto the peak or truck before lowering it to half-mast. Inlowering a half-masted ensign, raise it first to the peak ortruck, then lower it ceremoniously.When the national anthem, “To the Colors,” or“Retreat” is played at morning or evening colors aboardships not under way, all hands should hold the saluteduring the raising or lowering of the flag. Inhalf-masting during morning colors, “Carry on” should9-12Student Notes:Figure 9-8.—Union Jack.
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