What is the Colors ceremony?

• A. The nighttime parade of sailors on deck.
• B. The daily or ceremonial raising and lowering of the national flag on a ship.
• C. The official swearing-in of new cadets.
• D. A ceremony to welcome visitors on board.

Answer: (B)

The Colors ceremony is the formal flag-raising and flag-lowering ritual aboard a ship. It marks the start and end of the duty day, with the national flag hoisted to the yardarm at sunrise (Colors) and lowered at sunset (Evening Colors). The crew stands at attention, a guard may render honors, and music—often the national anthem or “To the Colors”—is played. This daily ritual honors the flag and the country while reinforcing discipline and tradition on the ship. The other descriptions refer to different activities—parading at night, swearing-in, or welcoming visitors—so they don’t match the ceremonial flag ritual.