Disneyland Honors Veterans In Daily Ceremony Many Don’t Know Exists
The Walt Disney Company has a long history of supporting military service members that dates back to founders Walt and Roy Disney. During World War I. Roy O. Disney was enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and while Walt Disney felt the call to serve his country, he was too young to enlist at the age of 16. Walt Disney enlisted in the Red Cross Ambulance Corps and went overseas to serve as an ambulance driver. Over the years, the Walt Disney Company has been committed to supporting the U.S. Armed Forces, and there is one particularly moving time-honored tradition honoring veterans that you can participate in at the park.
As you have walked by Town Square at Disneyland in the late afternoon, you may have noticed a gathering taking place around the flag pole. Many guests do not realize that this ceremony takes place every day, a tradition dating back to the park's opening day in 1955. The Disneyland Flag Retreat Ceremony is a beautiful way to thank military members for their service, and guests are welcome to observe this ceremony and participate by singing patriotic tunes.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the Flag Retreat Ceremony at Disneyland and how to see it!
Flag Retreat Ceremony at Disneyland
Each day before sundown, the Disneyland Resort Security Honor Detail will lower the American flag during a moving ceremony to honor veterans for their service in defending our nation. The ceremony takes place daily in Town Square around the flag pole, and several guests will gather around to watch. The Disneyland Band and Dapper Dans contribute musical performances, and the ceremony begins with the Disneyland Band marching to the front of Main Street U.S.A.
During the ceremony, veterans and active-duty military service members are invited to stand around the flag pole. Each branch of the military is individually invited up and their song is played (“The Cassions Go Rolling Along,” “Anchors Away,” “The Marines’ Hymn,” “Semper Paratus” and “The U.S. Air Force Song”), and the service members approach. In between the songs, you can hear recordings of patriotic quotes.
Then, the Disneyland Resort Security Honor Detail enters, and the veterans and active-duty service members are thanked for their service to America. As the Honor Detail retires the Colors, guests are invited to sing along to “The Star Spangled Banner.” The American flag and the California flag are reverently lowered and folded, then guests are invited to sing along to a “love song to our nation:” “God Bless America.”
The tradition of the Flag Retreat Ceremony continued during the park's 13-month closure during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the Dapper Dans rejoined the ceremony for the first time following the closure, Dapper Dans performer Jim Campbell, who served in the Army and has a history of military service in his family, said, “The lyrics also remind me of those who can’t be here. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can have this country; this theme park; so we can sing these songs and do all the things that we love to do. They paid the ultimate price so we can have these liberties.”
The Flag Retreat Ceremony occurs daily, and you can see the time listed on the Disneyland Daily Events Calendar on the website. When we recently visited the park, it took place at 4:15 pm. If you have seen this ceremony from a distance but never attended, we highly encourage you to stop and take the time to honor those who have served our country during this moving ceremony.
The Walt Disney Company has demonstrated its dedication to supporting veterans over the years, including the Heroes Work Here initiative that was started in 2012 to hire, train, and support returning veterans. Disneyland also has a Business Employee Resource Group called SALUTE that is dedicated to veterans and their friends and family. The Military Salute program provides exclusive offers for eligible members of the U.S. military, including discounted tickets and hotel rates, which you can read more about in our guide to Disneyland military discount tickets.
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