III Corps and Fort Hood honor the National Colors every day

Fort Hood honors Old Glory every day — 1 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A formation of U.S. Army soldiers with III Corps and Fort Hood honor the American flag as they lower it during the Retreat ceremony March 27, 2014. Retreat is conducted at the end of the day, every day, to honor the flag, which is raised during the R... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

III Corps formation honors National Colors during Retreat ceremony — 2 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A formation of U.S. Army soldiers with III Corps and Fort Hood folds the American flag after bringing it in during the Retreat ceremony March 27, 2014. Retreat is conducted at the end of the day, every day, to honor the flag, which is raised during t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

III Corps and Fort Hood Retreat ceremony — 3 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Gilmore, who hails from Green Cove Springs, Fla., holds the folded American flag as Spc. Thomas Gardner, from Yuma, Ariz., straightens it after the Retreat ceremony on Fort Hood, March 27, 2014. Retreat is observed at the end o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

National Colors enter III Corps HQ — 5 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Eduardo Salas, who hails from San Pedro, Calif., carries the American flag into the III Corps Headquarters building after the Retreat ceremony, March 27, 2014. Retreat is observed at the end of the day, every day, as all traffic and ac... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

National Colors fly at Fort Hood — 7 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The American flag is lowered down the III Corps and Fort Hood flag pole during the retreat ceremony March 27, 2014. Retreat signals the end of the day, and serves as a ceremony to honor the National Colors. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ken Scar, 7th Mob... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

III Corps Soldiers lower National Colors during Retreat ceremony — 9 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Gilmore, who hails from Green Cove Springs, Fla., and Spc. Thomas Gardner, from Yuma, Ariz., prepare to lower the American flag down the III Corps and Fort Hood flagpole during the Retreat ceremony March 27, 2014. Retreat is ob... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

III Corps formation brings in the colors during Retreat ceremony — 11 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Gilmore, who hails from Green Cove Springs, Fla., and Spc. Thomas Gardner, from Yuma, Ariz., prepare to lower the American flag down the III Corps and Fort Hood flagpole during the Retreat ceremony March 27, 2014. Retreat is ob... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

National Colors honored during Fort Hood Retreat ceremony — 13 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A formation of U.S. Army Soldiers with III Corps and Fort Hood render honors to the American flag as they lower it during the Retreat ceremony March 27, 2014. Retreat is conducted at the end of the day, every day, to honor the flag, which is raised d... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - Twice a day, every day, U.S. military bases stop everything. In the morning, during the Reveille ceremony as the American flag is raised, and at the end of the day, during Retreat, when it is lowered.

At Fort Hood, the National Colors fly on a pole that stands in front of the III Corps Headquarters building, which lies just inside the main gate of the base.

Military personnel are required to come to attention and render honors as the bugle call is played, either toward the flag or toward the direction of the music if the flag is not visible. Road traffic stops for the ceremonies, and soldiers exit their vehicles wherever they are to salute. For those still working inside buildings, all activity is halted and soldiers stand at attention facing in the direction of the flag.

At Fort Hood, most soldiers are just mustering for physical training as Reveille sounds and neat formations of soldiers in PT uniforms line both sides of the main roads for miles. As Retreat sounds, most soldiers are wrapping up their days and heading home, so idling cars with soldiers standing and saluting outside their open doors form long lines at every intersection.

The bugle calls for each ceremony blast across Fort Hood with a network of speakers mounted on top of telephone poles. Each bugle call is punctuated by a cannon shot from field guns located in front of the flagpole.

A formation of III Corps and Fort Hood soldiers is tasked with raising and lowering the National Colors every day. It is a solemn ritual and being a part of that formation is considered a high honor.

The flag is treated with reverence, never touching the ground and being folded and unfolded with the utmost care. Once the flag has been gathered and folded after Retreat, it is escorted into the III Corps Headquarters building, which is called to attention as the flag crosses the threshold. The command of "at ease" is called once the flag has been safely stored, ready to be flown again the next morning.

III Corps and Fort Hood honor the National Colors every day

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