Flag Closing Ceremonies

When you ask "when is taps played" do you mean at a military funeral?  and if that's what you mean, is that what you want to follow for your ceremony?  I'm not saying you should or shouldn't, just trying to clarify the question.

Or are you asking if it's appropriate to play taps at all?  Again, just trying to clarify the question.

p.s. kudos to you for your involvement and desire to make this as good an experience for them as you can.

I knew that flag ceremony stuff that I learned in the military would come in handy some day.

According to protocol, " To the Colors" should be played at the end of the day when the flag is lowered. After the flag is folded and the honor guard retreats and stores the flag until it is raised the next morning during "Revellie". "Taps" is traditionally played at lights out to signify the end of the day.

You can go to www.usarmy.mil and access FM 22-5 and that will have all the specific information. 

that shows I know nothing. 

No, no funeral.  Just a flag closing ceremony at the campout.   Pretty much a group of kids all dirty and doing the best they can to stand at attention for two minutes. I don't think many of the boys have ever heard Taps played before.  I THINK it's appropriate to play it as it's lowered?  

If we can't do the Taps thing/if it's not proper, I have a script here where we can fold the flag after it's removed, and explain every fold.  

Lucy,

It's not wrong to play "Taps" at the end. You can do whatever you want at the end. That was just the "official" version of how the military does things (well the Army at least).  

I think what you are talking about is covered in this link.

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~capguy/reveille.htm    Hope it helps.

Here is a link for Bugle Calls.  Stuff brings back memories.   http://www2.acc.af.mil/music/ceremonial/tunelist.html