[EmailPoster]

Often times at the end of a scout meeting,...

Originally Posted by milburn

Often times at the end of a Scout meeting, I hear "Retire the colors."
They are not retiring a worn out flag, but retrieving the flag displayed
during the meeting. What is the proper wording that should be used at
the end of a Scout meeting?

Chester Milburn

Originally Posted by EmailPoster

Often times at the end of a scout meeting,...

Your scout meeting is using the term correctly. The term "retire the colors" simply means to remove the flag from display. This involves the entire process of taking the flag down and folding it before it is taken from the room.

However, where you may have become confused is some Scout Troops do have a "flag retirement ceremony" for used or worn flags. In such ceremonies, flags that have outlived their usefulness are burned. These ceremonies are somewhat controversial as they can easily be misconstrued.

For more information on these ceremonies, you look can at this site:

The MacScouter -- Scouting Resources Online

But this ceremony is not related to the term "retire the colors" as used in your scout meeting. You are using this term absolutely correctly.