In the colors ceremony, at 0800, which occurs?

• A. Colors are hoisted without prep pennant.
• B. Prep pennant is hauled down during colors.
• C. Colors are executed and closed up at the same time prep pennant is at the dip.
• D. Prep pennant remains at full staff during colors.

Answer: (D)

During the colors ceremony, the signal flags show preparation and the actual color presentation as separate steps. The preparatory pennant is used to indicate that colors are imminent, but once colors begin, that pennant is not moved as part of the ceremony. Therefore, at 0800 the correct procedure is that the prep pennant remains at full staff during colors, while the national ensign is executed.

This is why the other possibilities don’t fit: colors are not performed with the pennant being hauled down or dipped during the ceremony, and the prep pennant isn’t concurrently signaling preparation and colors at the same time. The standard practice is to keep the prep pennant at full staff while colors are being executed.