At the National Championships at Camp
Perry OH, each days match begins with a ceremony called "colors"
In the morning, as everyone is gathering on the line, over the
loadspeaker the announcement is made: "stand by for colors!"
two army guys come marching down the road, carrying an artillery shell
(blank)
and they arrive at a WWI Artillery Piece, I think it is a french 75mm
They load it
and.....
at a given hour, 0730 I think....
they fire it
immediately, the star spangled banner begins playing and the flag is
raised
everyone on the line and in the pits stands at attention during the
playing of the national anthem
when it is over, some clown always says "play ball!"
Then they begin prep period and the match begins.