Left out of the recent coverage of LSU’s official flags, which were lowered and set afire by an international student shortly after the news broke of Osama bin Laden’s demise, were the men and women whose job it is to care for the flags and keep them crisply snapping in the wind.
LSU’s color guard is called the Pershing Rifles. It’s their job to know when, how and where to fly the flags and to follow every protocol and etiquette.
“What most people don’t know is that there is a difference between what’s called the American Flag and the National Colors,” says U.S. Army Capt. William T. Conger, the former academic advisor for the Pershing Rifles and an expert in how to properly care for and present our flags. “The American Flag is simply the plain flag you usually see flying high on a flag post. These flags are heavy-duty and can withstand the wear and tear of flying on a pole. On the other hand, the National Colors are ceremonial flags that have gold fringe around the edges and are much more delicate.”
For example, the American Flag flies high at the War Memorial on LSU’s campus Parade Grounds. Interestingly enough, this flag actually stays up 24/7. In fact, there are really two flags that fly there, Conger says. “The flag that’s usually there is a traditional flag, which six people can pull down. Then there’s a much bigger flag we fly for special occasions and ceremonies. This flag can take 100 people to pull down.” That flag, Conger says, is larger even than the iconic one that flies over the Robinson Brothers car dealership near I-12.
The National Colors, he says, are the flags presented at special events like LSU football games. In fact, LSU’s Pershing Rifles performed at the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta when LSU took on Georgia Tech in 2008. Conger took four of his best cadets—chosen by their peers—and formed a joint color guard with Georgia Tech.
The Pershing Rifles are a national organization, with LSU’s chapter usually having 25 to 30 active members at a given time. While the Pershing Rifles is an Army organization at LSU, its members are cadets from all branches.
Pershing Rifles is composed of male and female students. Members can be any rank or classification, though Congers admits, “We usually encourage freshmen to at least get that first semester behind them before they join.”
But all members have to undergo a demanding initiation process. “You are observed in your uniform,” Conger says, “and in drill and ceremony. It’s about how well you perform under pressure, because this is high pressure. You could be performing in front of a packed Tiger Stadium during a football game or a full audience at Graduation.” In some ways, the Pershing Rifles are like a fraternity or a sorority. “You need to show you’re cut from the same cloth.”
In addition to the flag flown at the War Memorial, there are two flags flown outside of LSU’s Military Sciences building. They’re raised daily at 7 a.m., and lowered at 5 p.m. Also displayed are the state flag and corps colors (LSU colors). Flags are lowered to half-mast for national holidays such as Memorial Day or Independence Day or at the order of the U.S. president or Louisiana governor.
“We get off-campus requests too,” Conger says proudly. “High school football games, commencements, Boy Scout events, etc. People put in requests for us just like they would Mike the Tiger. We do between 30 to 50-plus events a year. Even for the events between semesters or during the summer, like Fourth of July, these students will come back to do their thing. They’re very dedicated.”
