termination of the call, ruffles and flourishes, music, or gun salute, depending on which is the last rendered. If a gun salute is not prescribed on arrival but a flag or pennant is to be displayed during the visit, it is broken at the start of the call. 6. Piping of the side, ruffles and flourishes, and music are rendered in that order. In the absence of a band, “To the Colors” is sounded on the bugle in lieu of the national anthem, when required. 7. The visitor, if entitled to 11 guns or more, is invited to inspect the guard upon completion of honors. Departing Departure honors for an official visit are as follows: 1. The rail is manned, if required. 2. “Attention” is sounded as the visitor arrives on the quarterdeck. 3. When the visitor is ready to leave the ship, the guard presents arms; all persons on the quarterdeck salute; and ruffles and flourishes, followed by music, are rendered. The visitor is then piped over the side. The salute and present arms terminate with the last note of the call. If no salute is to be fired, the flag or pennant displayed in honor of the visitor is hauled down. 4. The boat or vehicle is piped away from the side. 5. If a gun salute is prescribed on departure, it is fired when the visitor is clear of the side. If a flag or pennant is displayed in honor of the visitor, it is hauled down with the last gun of the salute. The same honor and ceremonies as for an official visit to a ship of the Navy is rendered, insofar as practicable and appropriate, on the occasion of an official visit to a naval station, except that manning the rail, piping the side, and parading side boys are not considered appropriate. When, in the opinion of the senior officer present, such honors will serve a definite purpose, they may be rendered. Signalman's Duties The Signalman's responsibilities for honors during official visits are the proper display of flags or pennants. That entails some advance planning and coordination to ensure a snappy evolution. A basic rule for the display is that only one distinctive mark may fly from a ship. Thus, if the person visiting is an officer eligible for command at sea who rates a personal flag or command pennant, the personal flag flies in lieu of the commission pennant. If the ship visited is a flagship and the officer visiting is senior to the commander of the unit and rates a personal flag or command pennant, the personal flag or command pennant of the officer visiting flies in lieu of the unit commander's personal flag or pennant. The flag or pennant of an officer not eligible for command at sea is not displayed from a ship of the Navy. The Red Cross flag is never replaced. The flying of the personal flag of an officer eligible for command of a warship at sea violates the neutrality of the provisions of the Geneva Convention. In addition to the rule that only one distinctive mark may be displayed at one time, the commission pennant and personal flag of a civil official may not be displayed simultaneously. When a civil official in whose honor the display of a personal flag is prescribed pays an official visit or embarks for passage, the personal flag is displayed at the after masthead or most conspicuous hoist, replacing the distinctive mark. If the mark is a commission pennant, it is immediately lowered; if it is an officer's personal flag or command pennant, it is shifted, as explained earlier in this chapter. Visits during dress ship also provide variations in displaying personal flags and command pennants. Check U.S. Navy Regulations and NTP 13 for details. HONORS ON RELIEF OF COMMAND When a flag officer or a unit commander relieves a command or departs after being relieved, the same honors are rendered as for an official visit, subject to regulations pertaining to gun salutes. When assuming a command, an officer reads his/her orders to the assembled officers and crew. Immediately after reading the orders, the officer's personal flag or command pennant is broken, and a gun salute, if required, is fired. If the flag officer or unit commander is relieving another officer in command, the officer being relieved reads his/her orders to the assembled officers and crew. On completion thereof, or after the gun salute, if fired, the commission pennant is hoisted and the personal flag or pennant immediately lowered. The officer succeeding to command then reads his/her orders, and on completion thereof, the flag or command pennant is broken and the ship's commission pennant is hauled down. 10-17