Which ceremony involves the raising and lowering of the national flag?

• A. Colors ceremony
• B. Salute ceremony
• C. Ensign ceremony
• D. Flag-raising ceremony

Answer: (A)

Raising and lowering the national flag is done through the Colors ceremony. Colors is the formal term used in military and naval settings for the ritual of hoisting the flag at sunrise and lowering it at sunset, usually performed by a color guard and accompanied by a moment of attention and, often, the national anthem or a bugle call. This precise, ceremonial handling and the signaling of the day’s start and end is what makes Colors the correct term. A flag-raising ceremony is a general description and doesn’t reflect the official name; a salute ceremony centers on salutes rather than the flag’s handling; and an ensign ceremony isn’t the standard term used for this flag ritual.