Reveille

Raising our Country's Flag

Author's Note ▼

When I was assigned as a patrol MP on Ft. Irwin and in Germany, part of my patrol duties was to raise the flag or lower the flag depending on what shift I was working. I was a Sergeant and I was responsible for the detail. A patrol would meet me at headquarters and we would prepare to raise or lower it depending on the day. Here in this poem, I try to share the experience with the reader. Here's a link to Reveille so you could get a feel of the bugle call when raising the flag. Reville comes a French word meaning to wake up, that's why the Army's bugle call is called Reville.

Darkness grows light
Oranges and pinks
Peek over the horizon.
Daylight is coming.
It’s the cue – the day must dawn

On Fliegerhorst Kaserne.
Patrols stand stoic
At the gate
Keeping the peace

Headquarters stir,
A nod, an acknowledgement
Meeting my patrol.
We march in to find
The duty officer and
Bugle caller tired, yet awake.

Side to side are my enlisted
I take the flag, respectful and reverent
We march to the pole,
Tall and graceful
Higher grows the light.

My enlisted unfold the flag
We stand at the pole at ready
Reveille –
Salute -
Chills –
Garrison flag unfolds gently waving
Over an Army base
Now secured on the pole

The day has begun
The last note has rung