Order of the Arrow ceremonies and symbols

Originally, the Sashes were called arrow bands. These bands were described as being in the original ceremony a black band with a white vertical stripe on the front made of the same material as black academic robes based on testimonies of early members. In the Ritual of the Second Degree (published around 1918 by Dr. William Hinkle), the band was moved from the right shoulder to the left shoulder right before the end of the ceremony. The same band was worn by First Degree (Ordeal) and Second Degree (Brotherhood) but on different shoulders. The earliest photographic evidence from 1919 from Treasure Island confirms that the bands were worn on both shoulders.^[15] No original sashes are known to exist today. This information comes from two testimonies from early members. According to Harry Yoder, the first guide and charter member of the Order wrote in 1921: "In the early days of the Order the members wore a black sash with a white stripe running lengthwise instead of the white band with the red arrow." George Chapman recounted in the unpublished work The Arrow and the Vigil (1953): "As has been previously mentioned, the officers of Wimachtendienk wore black robes for the induction ceremony. Members wore a black sash with a white arrow on it, very similar to the sash worn today except for the color."^[16]

A black and white picture published in August 1921 in a Philadelphia newspaper on the Wimachtendienk shows the officers wearing black robes with a white band and a dark-colored arrow on top.^[15] It is unclear if that arrow was black or red. In 1921, when the Grand Lodge was formed, a picture was also taken showing members wearing the band on both left and right shoulder.^[15] It also shows Goodman and Edson wearing a sash in the shape of a triangle on the chest that appears to be a fraternal bib. This was the Third Degree bib-type sash.^[15] The first known physical examples of the white sash with a red arrow dates back from around 1922. First Degree and Second Degree had a white wool-felt band with red wool-felt arrows sewn on it. The Vigil Honor had a white wool-felt band without an arrow and a red Vigil triangle with arrows on each side. These were made by the Grand Lodge and remained mainly unchanged from 1921 to 1948. Region 7 however, used bands made of twill cloth with arrows in red linen from the late 1920s to the mid-1930s.^[15]

In 1948, the Order retained the white wool-felt for the band but the red arrow was flocked silk-screened on it. The Vigil Honor had a large red wool-felt triangle with the white arrows silk-screened. In 1950, it was decided that the sash would go on the right shoulder only. The sash changed again: Brotherhood bars were flocked onto the sashed to distinguish Ordeal from Brotherhood. In 1951/1952, the Vigil oversized triangle was replaced by a small triangle. All the sashes used the same silk-screening process and were all the same size.^[15]

In 1955, the wool-felt was replaced with twill material and the silk-screen was replaced by embroidery. The Sash had two plies of material so the embroidery did not show through. Over the years, the stitching on the edge evolved but the sash remained the same. The arrows on the Vigil Honor triangle were manufactured both counterclockwise as well as clockwise. In 1988, the arrows and other red symbols were hot ironed on the sash. This was short lived as the sashes did not survive the wash and by 1990, the sashes were embroidered again. It has remained unchanged to this day.^[15]

At formal events or Order of the Arrow functions, Arrowmen can be readily identified by a white sash bearing a red arrow that is worn over their right shoulder. An Ordeal member wears a sash with a lone arrow. The Brotherhood member wears a sash bearing an arrow with a red bar at each end of the arrow. A Vigil Honor member wears a sash with the same bars of as the Brotherhood sash at each end of the arrow, and a Vigil Honor triangle on the center of the shaft. The OA sash is not worn at the same time as the merit badge sash, nor worn folded in the belt.^[17] The sash as a form of recognition dates to the founding of the Order and has a long history of changes in usage and design.^[17]

It is not to be worn at Troop Meetings, Campouts, Courts of Honor, Training and FOS Presentations as it is a symbol of the OA ideal, not a rank of an item to "show off" your honor. It is appropriate to wear it at events where OA business is taking place such as Unit Election, Lodge Fellowship, Lodge Meetings, etc.^[18]

The early pins were replaced by the ribbon. However, the ribbon does not indicate the Honor of the wearer, only the membership to the OA and only the sash references the Honor today.

Order members may choose to wear the OA Universal Ribbon also known as "Dangles"^[19] suspended from the right uniform shirt pocket button.^[17]

The Ribbon was introduced in 1942. This was the first time Arrowmen could officially wear the OA symbol. It was very similar to the current version and was made of red and white silk with a sterling arrow. The first arrows pointed left instead of right, pointing left over the wearer's shoulder.^[20] In 1950, the OA removed the code words referencing "left" and replaced it with "right". In 1952, the ribbon also switched to point over the wearer's right shoulder.^[21]

Additional award pins can be attached to the ribbon including the Order of the Arrow 75th Anniversary Achievement from 1990 and the Order of the Arrow Arrowman Service Award Ribbon Pin issued between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003.^[19][22]

Arrowmen also exchange a special handshake as a token of brotherhood, along with other signs and passwords. A signature acronym, WWW (Wimachtendienk Wingolauchsik Witahemui – Brotherhood of Cheerful Service), is often depicted in publications, regalia, etc.^[23]

Since the Order of the Arrow was founded as a fraternal organization, it followed similar traditions similar to its counterparts. These organizations often used small pins made of precious metals as insignias. In Article III of the first constitution of the Order of the Arrow from 1916, three recognition pieces are described:

• a silver arrow pledge for candidates (now Ordeal)*
• a gold tortoise and arrow pin for First Degree (now Brotherhood)*
• a gold tortoise and triangle for Second Degree (now Vigil)*^[24]

*The Ordeal in 1916 was considered a pledge and not a full membership. Therefore, there were only two degrees.^[25]

The pledge (Ordeal) pin is almost identical to the silver arrow pin still found today except it is now die-struck as opposed to poured into a die.^[25]

These pins were mandatory in the beginning of the order. However, due to the cost of the silver and gold used in their manufacturing, these pins were not always manufactured by the Lodges. The pins were made by several jewelers over the years. The use of pins became optional. These pins were not to be worn on the sash or on the BSA uniform but only on civilian clothes.^[25]

The Grand Lodge Insignia Committee required that each lodge have its own distinct totem in a similar way as the heraldry rule that no two coats of arms can be the same. The idea was that members could determine the status and local affiliation of another member just by looking at their pin while non-members would be clueless of the meaning of the pin. By 1930, the requirement for each Lodge to have its own totem became impractical due to the number of Lodges being created.^[25]

These were the ancestors of the current Lodge Pocket Flap Patches. These pins were used along with the Ribbon after it was introduced in 1942. Some lodges still make these pins but they are rare.^[24][25]

In a 1938 National Meeting at Camp Irondale, Missouri, shows several arrowmen wearing lodges patches of different shapes. These patches were a deviation from the national uniform standard at the time. However, this practice would become mainstream and official. It would replace the Early Lodge Pins. Indeed, a pin could cost upward of $4.50 while a lodge patch could be purchased for 20 cents. Finally, in 1945, the BSA Uniform Committee agreed to the use of the Lodge Patch. However, it was omitted from the 1948 Order of the Arrow Handbook. The use of the lodge patch was advocated in the handbook but it did not indicate that it had to be worn on the right pocket. As a result, each lodge had its own way of placing the patches. It was the Ajapeu Lodge in Doylstown, PA, around 1942 that had the right shirt pocket flap as the OA location.^[24]

It took until 1954 for the national OA committee to finally offer clarification with the following decision: "It is strongly recommended by the National Committee that these emblems be made to fit the shape of the right shirt pocket flap. The right shirt pocket flap has been approved by the National Committee on Badges and Insignia for official Order of the Arrow Insignia where the other emblems are only temporary insignia when used on the uniform. It should be realized that this is a great advantage and a complement to the Order of the Arrow."^[24]

OA membership and Lodge affiliation are indicated by the wearing of the lodge emblem (commonly known as a lodge flap), an embroidered patch is worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. Each lodge flap has a unique design, generally reflecting the name, geography or history of the lodge. Part of this is a totem that represents the lodge.^[26] The flap was officially approved by the National Committee in 1954. No other organization has received the honor from Boy Scouts of America to have a portion of the uniform reserved for their own use.^[27] Special issues of flaps are created to commemorate anniversaries and other events, and are a popular item for those who engage in Scouting memorabilia collecting.^[28]

The Lodge Flap has over time grown and today many Lodge Flaps are actually two patches: one for the flap and one for the pocket itself. Since 2007 with Operations Update 07–8, Lodges can not create flaps that are larger than the flap itself. The two part sets comply with the guidelines if they are made of two separate pieces, the two parts can be worn independently from one another and the flap patch stays within the boundaries of the pocket flap.^[29]

In 1938, a bonnet made was made by members of the Anicus Lodge of Golden eagle feathers in the fashion of a Native American War bonnet. It was gifted to the National Lodge of the OA in 1940 to be worn by the chief of the National Lodge. It would be used for over 40 years for the opening and closing shows of NOAC as well as National Planning Meetings and other national events.^[30]

Since 1918 with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Federal Government had started protected birds and slowly restricting the use of some bird feathers and other body parts. In 1940, the Bald Eagle Protection Act was passed protecting Bald Eagles exclusively. This Act would be extended to the Golden Eagle in 1962. This law is enforced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). On January 1, 1976, with the encouragement of the USFWS, the National OA Committee issued its "Protected Feather Clarification" policy, prohibiting the use of animal parts in the construction of Native American regalia used at Scouting events. The USFWS made an allowance for the use of the bonnet and it continued to be used after that date.^[30]

In November 1980, a fire destroyed BSA's National Office where the bonnet was on display and it was destroyed. The National OA Committee announced it would construct two replacement bonnets. For the first time, the national vice chief would also wear a bonnet. Various options were proposed to complete this while also complying with the Law. Eventually, the solution came from the USFWS itself. After confirming that the original bonnet was made of real eagle feathers obtained prior to the enactment of the laws, approval was granted to replace the original bonnet with two bonnets. Each was made of 32 real golden eagle feathers tipped with owl feathers provided by the USFWS. The feathers came from illegal bonnets confiscated by USFWS and were offered to BSA/OA by the Federal agency via a special permit/loan agreement for scientific and educational purposes. The replacement were first starting in 1982 and used until 2004.^[30]

In keeping with its policy on Protected Feathers, the bonnets were retired and replaced with new replica bonnets using imitation eagle feathers. These bonnets were first used in 2005.^[30]

• Order of the Arrow Official Website