Army traditions and ceremonies?

I would say that whatever you decide to do, do it as if it were the very last time you would ever get to do it. Do that thing with such precision, such pride, such enthusiasm that anyone observing cannot help but go "DAMN!"

And then once you have done it that way, do it that way every time. You make the difference regarding your customs and traditions. If you decide to do it, it will have been done. If you decide to carry forward your unit customs, then it will be carried forward.

Finally I have to state that perhaps a more lean approach can be made. I recently had a discussion with my father-in-law who retired as a SFC from the Army. He explained to me that anyone who retires from the Army rates a parade. When he discharged he specifically stated he did not want one, because they were BS anyway. That was an interesting bit of information for me. If the troops have to fall in every week for a parade or what have you, perhaps it gets a little old and troops start to no care.

Keep your traditions in your heart. Educate those that come after you. Ensure that they carry it forward. That is how you maintain those traditions.

SGT (Join to see), I feel that traditions will not change drastically... but rather continue to evolve. With cultural diversity, different wars, different generations, and other factors; the cultural of the Army will continue to evolve with it.

This may be a little offbeat, but I remember as a PFC in 2002 in Camp Eagle, Korea... all you heard was country music before a run. The unit was highly diverse, but the upper staff was not. All of us lower enlisted Soldiers looked puzzled and just wish there was more diversity in the music. Now it's 2013/2014 and you hear all sorts of music before runs. You'll hear rock, country, hip-hop and pop songs. Basically, traditions and the attitudes of Army personnel continue to evolve with the community, but occurs of a generational span.

Much of the tradition is simple - this is how we do it. Often we have forgotten WHY we do it that way. Take the flag folding at a funeral - the simple, clean method - who know why we do it that way. But the simple fact that every SM, Veteran or KIA gets that same attention to detail as a final touch to the family. Don't give up on traditions unless there's a good reason to....