June 14 is Flag Day, commemorating the adoption of the stars and stripes as the official flag of the American colonies in 1777.
No Girl Scout event is complete without a flag ceremony. Troop meetings, day camp, resident camp, Thinking Day, and more begin and end with a flag ceremony.
Girl Scouts are introduced to US history when they learn about the US flag. These ceremonies are a central element in teaching about citizenship and democracy.
In honor of Flag Day, the Archives and History Committee installed a flag-themed exhibit at the headquarters of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital.
Flag Etiquette
The display explains the basics of flag care and ceremonies. I’ve added some QR codes that jump to short how-to videos on flag ceremonies, flag folding, and semaphore–the skill of communicating by flag.
Wearing the Flag
The US flag was not part of the official Girl Scout uniform until after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Even today, the flag technically is optional, although most girls and adults wear it.
The straight flag was introduced in the 2002 catalog, although no girl pictured in the catalog was wearing one. A wavy, iron-on flag was introduced in 2008.
GSUSA also introduced three new badges that emphasized flag etiquette, history, and patriotism: Wave the Flag for Brownies, United We Stand for Juniors, and American Patriotism for Cadettes and Seniors. (Ambassadors began in 2008.)
These badges were retired in 2011, but they often may be found in online sales groups.
Size Doesn’t Matter
Girl Scouts can handle very, very large flags, including the 45 ft x 90 ft Mt. Rushmore Flag.
And even the smallest Girl Scout camper can perform a flag ceremony.
Flags as Decoration
Flags may be used to decorate gravesites, buildings, or other public places. But, according to the US Flag Code: “Never use the flag for advertising or promotion purposes or print it on paper napkins, boxes or anything else intended for temporary use and discard.” Never modify the Girl Scout emblem, either.
Other Flags
US flags are hardly the only ones Girl Scouts use. There is a national flag, an international flag, council flags, troop flags. We could only fit a few of our many flags in the display cases.
Favorite Images
We have a wealth of flags and related photos in the Nation’s Capital Council collection. One of my favorite images is the four girls marching in the 2010 Montgomery Village, Maryland, Fourth of July Parade (that’s my daughter on the left; my husband and I played at the concert that followed.)
A Flag Day display provided an opportunity to highlight one of the unique items from our archives. We are always grateful for donations, but this one is wonderfully random.
Brownie Jane Cadorette drew this parade in 1957. It wound up with her art teacher, who’s daughter donated it a few years ago.
How adorable!
© 2026 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.
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