Greatly appreciate your quick response and thanks for your great effort.

From the beginning of our country, the established order of protocol has been predicated on the date of an organization’s Congressional charter or incorporation. That is why the Army goes first, followed by the Marine Corp, then Navy, Air Force, and finally the Coast Guard—that is the order in which they were chartered.

The U.S. State Department, in keeping with that tradition, orders all VSOs (Veterans Service Organizations) by their dates of charter. As 501(c)(3) civilian not-for-profit organizations, all VSOs and other civilian organizations (such as the Boy Scouts, the Daughters of the American Revolution for example) stand on equal footing within the charter protocol.

It is entirely possible that any number of women auxiliaries—based on their dates of charter—would march after their “host” VSO—having most likely been chartered within a few years of the host organization (of course, the ladies’ auxiliary is a VSO too, but it is my understanding that a ladies aux. cannot charter without a host). So a local American Legion and their subsequent Ladies Auxiliary charter, if it was chartered before local VFW post, then the Ladies would in fact be entitled to march ahead of the the VFW post (as example). They could ALL be marching behind the Daughters of the American Revolution, if the DAR showed up.

I have no doubt that most of the ladies groups would yield their position to the Veterans, but in a small community or where the same parade is held each year, a wise and prudent parade organizer would keep careful records and rotate “who goes first.” Of course there can only be one official Color Guard, which can carry the organizational flags of those marching behind, or those individual organizations can carry the Colors again, along with their personal flag.

Regarding documentation: I use the various Armed Forces flag manuals; a book: The Complete Handbook of Diplomatic, Official and Social Usage by Mary Jane McCaffree, Pauline Innis, and Richard M. Sand; and government web sites as needed. And I am a ruthless and prolific telephone caller. I will pick up the phone and call anyone, anywhere, and wait for an answer.

Also, I have answered many similar questions at this particular posting. Reading all the Q & A here will be most useful.

Thank you for writing, and Best Wishes,
Deborah Hendrick

Reading from the U.S. Flag Code, at Section 7. Position and manner of display
[ ... . ]
(a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is
displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

Reading from the U.S. Flag Code, Section 8 Respect for the flag
[ ... .]
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

If used on a float, the flag should be on a staff. Moreover, a “flag” or a “depiction of a flag” made out of balloons could only be described as ephemeral—for temporary use and discarded. It would be an egregious breach of flag etiquette and protocol.

At the top of The Daily Flag is a link to the entire U.S. Flag Code by sections. It can be read in fifteen minutes, and I encourage you to do so. A business is in a tricky position when it comes to displaying the flag, and advertising the business. Any carelessness in displaying the flag would result in the worst kind of attention to your business, instead of making people think kindly about it. If you want to use a flag, use a real flag (and all the balloons you want everywhere else).

Thank you for writing. Best wishes on your parade float.
Deborah Hendrick

Let me give you a general outline of “who goes first,” so you will know for future reference. A full military Color Guard, if present, will always take the lead position. A military Color Guard would not show up at a civilian parade without a specific invitation, so presumably, there would never be a conflict about them leading the parade. A college ROTC unit would be next, but once again, a college unit most likely would not show up to march in a parade without being invited. A high school unit, Jr. ROTC, could register to participate in a parade without knowing that they have the third highest priority to the lead Color Guard position. These people are all under an active duty oath, and as such (even the high schoolers) they are accorded the honor of carrying the Colors before all others.

Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Veterans Association very often feel that they have the strongest right to carrying the Colors (after the active duty units) because of their previous service to the country. I can’t imagine a parade that would not give an honored position within the parade to these veterans, but VSOs are also 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, and as such, their order of protocol is shared with other non-profits. I am going to assume that the Sheriff’s Mounted Posse is also a 501(c)(3) organization, too, along with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the VFW Auxiliary, and so on.

Predicated by the strictest U.S. State Department protocol, these organizations would be ordered by the dates of their congressional charters (oldest goes first). In a small community or in a parade that is a yearly event, the diplomatic parade organizer will rotate the various organizations so each one has an opportunity to carry the parade Colors throughout the years. It sounds like the Sheriff’s Mounted Posse has never been given the honor of leading the parade, and that’s a shame.

Between now and the next parade, let me suggest that someone from the Sheriff’s Mounted Posse host a meeting with the commander of the VFW, and the appropriate parade organizers. The VFW assumes the Color Guard is their right (and by congressional charter, they may well be an older organization than the Sheriff’s Mounted Posse), but the VFW would probably yield if they realized how important it is for everyone to share in the honor of carrying the Colors.

However, there is no dishonor in being staged somewhere else in the parade (not in the lead) and still carrying the Colors. I have seen parades where there were many organizations, all carrying flags. If I were staging a parade, and had more than one organization carrying the Colors, I would not line them up in a row at the front. I would place them throughout the parade because it would make for a better—more interesting and colorful—parade.

The Q & A at this Daily Flag article, Protocol questions—Parades, the Pledge, and the National Anthem, contains a lot of good information that you might like to read at your leisure. Unfortunately, a lot of groups have this same problem.

Thank you for writing, Leslie, and I hope this helps. Best wishes, Deborah