Flag Retreat

[Vault Disney]

I see that Flag Retreat is listed at Disney.com. Does anyone know if DL has the Veteran of the Day?

[tigger001]

I don't know if they have a Veteran of the Day, but every time I have watched the retreat ceremony, there is a different uniformed soldier their to oversee the whole thing. They actually don't do anything, but stand and salute.

[AP2CM]

I've watched the flag retreat many, many times and I have never observed a "veteran of the day" being named or utilized. Typically, members of the security dept. with military backgrounds volunteer to do the honors.

[Whatever]

though it broadcasts my ignorance to the world, could someone explain Flag Retreat, what it represents, how it works, etc.?

[Alan]

Flag retreat is the ceremony held at the end of everyday when they lower the Americazn Flag on Main Street.

[wolfy]

Is that at Sunset, or when the park closes? I've never heard of it before either.

[Alan]

Is that at Sunset, or when the park closes? I've never heard of it before either.

At sunset.

[Whatever]

Oh! I knew about that, just never heard it called that... learn something new every day!

[HMMaid2001]

I enjoyed being there, saluting, when I was a steam trains conductor and when I was a hostess at the Walt Disney Story...im not sure if you guys know, that if a castmember walks by, and doesn't stop , when the music plays and when the flag is comming down, they can get in trouble..

[CA_Man_In_HI]

When I worked as a Security CM I had the honor of getting selected to do flag retreat. It was an awesome expierence! I had raised the flags at DL at lot, as well as both raising and lowering the ones in front of the Hotel. But to lower the flags in front of the guests and to Stars & Stripes Forever was an expierence I'll never forget. There's one security CM, Ernie, who was the absolute best at it. I'm sure his term in the Marine Corps was a major factor.

[JustMe]

I only saw this for the first time a couple of years ago. I had no idea that this ceremony took place every day. It's awesome. I really don't think most guests know about it.

I'm actually surprised that someone hasn't made some type of a public fuss about it....crying that it offends them in some way

[Retlaw Yensid]

My last two trips to Disneyland I have tried to see this. Next trip I will set an alarm to remind me to go.

[Old_School_Goofy]

flag retreat

Flag Retreat is done at DL everyday at 4:45pm. It is either accompanied by a live band, or taped music(most days). It is now performed rain or shine. Another fact about flag retreat is that all CM's are required to stop and place hand on heart, if in security costume we are required to stop and salute during the playing of the national anthem. Next time your out there watching check to see who is saluting.

[tod]

Flag Retreat is done at DL everyday at 4:45pm. It is either accompanied by a live band, or taped music(most days). It is now performed rain or shine. Another fact about flag retreat is that all CM's are required to stop and place hand on heart, if in security costume we are required to stop and salute during the playing of the national anthem. Next time your out there watching check to see who is saluting.

It's done more or less at sunset. The time changes with the seasons: In summer it can be 6-ish.

--t

[SoCal]

Check the calendar on disneyland.com - they always list the time for the day

[Old_School_Goofy]

actually we just received a memo on it not to long ago, and did anyone notice that it is a new flag flying above main st?

[Tinafromidaho]

I enjoyed being there, saluting, when I was a steam trains conductor and when I was a hostess at the Walt Disney Story...im not sure if you guys know, that if a castmember walks by, and doesn't stop , when the music plays and when the flag is comming down, they can get in trouble..

Hee Hee, that reminds me of when we were in the Marines, stationed in Tustin CA, if we had to go outside around sundown when they would lower the flag and play taps we would always run so we wouldn't get caught "out" and have to stand there at attention the whole time. But now I am thinking when we go in October, I'll have to plan to go and stand there to watch old glory get lowered.

[innerSpaceman]

Do they ever do the "dove" version anymore?


Back in the proverbial day, they would release white homing pidgeons at the end of the ceremony, and the birds would fly up Main Street to their rookery or whatever in the Castle. It was a neat theatrical flourish to the event.

[MickeyMania]

all CM's are required to stop and place hand on heart

Nice to see meaningless symbolism is still alive and well.

[Whatever]

Nice to see meaningless symbolism is still alive and well.

Please explain.