Patrol flags have been part of scouting programs for more than a century. Patrol flags help build esprit de corps—that feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty shared by patrol members—which is an important aspect of the patrol method.
In scouting, patrols historically adopted animal names, such as the Eagle, Panther, or Beaver patrol. Contemporary names have been more creative, such as the Atomic Biscuits, Ice Dragons, Flying Pigs, and Graceful Pirates.
Since Trail Life is a Christ-centered program, patrol flags are another opportunity for troops to honor our scouting legacy, while raising the standard. In our Catholic troops, patrol flags are also a way to contribute to an authentic Catholic identity within the troop. Instead of zoological classifications, patrols can be named:
- For the saints, such as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception or Saint Michael the Archangel;
- For devotions, such as the Sacred Heart, Corpus Christi, or the Divine Mercy; or
- For occurrences in the life of the Church, such as the Transfiguration, Pentecost, or the Resurrection.
Patrol flags should be fun, but they can also serve a catechetical purpose of teaching the faith.