Dipping the flag

Dipping a carried flag means lowering it from a vertical position to one which is, variously 45 degrees from the horizontal, or, even further, touching the ground.

The national flag, when carried, is never dipped or lowered to the ground.

Within the Canadian Forces, some military units do not have "Colours" (the flag of a military unit, often used in plural form as pair of flags frequently issued to units). The units, when on parade, may carry the National Flag of Canada and the Canadian Forces ensign. When salutes are given, the flags are not dipped but are let fly. The flag bearer extends his/her hand and let the flags fly free. At the conclusion of the salute, the flags are gathered in. This procedure applies during inspection or on march past.