UNITED STATES MILITARY FLAG HISTORY
The Army flag was dedicated
and revealed to the general public on June 14, 1956 at
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on the 181st anniversary
of the establishment of the U.S. Army by the Continental
Congress in 1775. Measuring 4 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 6
inches, the flag is made of white silk with a blue
embroidered central design of the original War Office
seal. "United States Army" is adorned in white letters on
a crimson ribbon, with the year "1775" in blue numerals
below.
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Order No. 4 designated gold
and scarlet as the official colors of the U.S. Marine
Corps on April 18, 1925. These colors, however, were not
reflected in the official Marine Corps standard until
January 18, 1939 when a new design incorporating the new
colors was approved. The design was essentially that of
today's Marine Corps standard. The flag is scarlet and
gold. It features an eagle atop the world with a ribbon
in its mouth carrying the motto "Semper Fidelis." At the
bottom, as with the Army flag, there's a ribbon with
"United States Marine Corps" inscribed on it.
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The Department of the Navy
Seal, created in 1957, was to serve as the main feature
of the official United States Navy flag, adopted two
years later. The flag did not pass through an
evolutionary development, as was the case with the Navy
Seal. Ships of the earliest period in the Nation's naval
history wore a variety of flags, including the striped
Grand Union, and those bearing a pine tree or
rattlesnake. However, these various banners may be
considered steps in the birth of the national standard
the "Stars and Stripes," rather than descent of a
specific flag was introduced for use by naval landing
forces. This was a blue flag with a white diamond shape
in the center and a blue foul anchor superimposed on the
diamond. The flag for the United States Navy is 4 feet 4
inches hoist by 5 feet 6 inches fly of dark blue
material, with yellow fringe, 2 ½ inches wide. In the
center of the flag is a device 3 feet 1 inch overall
consisting of the inner pictorial position of the seal of
the Department of the Navy. Within a circular yellow rope
edging, all 2 feet 6 inches in diameter above a yellow
ribbon inscribed "United States Navy," in dark blue
letters. The flag of the United States Navy is reserved
for display purposes and is carried by an honor guard on
ceremonial occasions.
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The U.S. Air Force flag was
approved on March 26, 1951. The flag included the coat of
arms, 13 white stars and the Air Force Seal on a blue
background. The Air Force Seal was approved by Harry S.
Truman on November 1, 1947. The entire design used on the
shield is taken from the heraldic representation of the
mythological thunderbolt, also known as Jupiter's
thunderbolt. At the honor point of the shield is a
lightning bolt conceived of as the missile cast to earth
in the lightning flash. The pair of wings and smaller
lightning flashes surrounding the bolt completes the
design. The eagle's head is turned to the right and
symbolizes facing the enemy-looking toward the future,
and not dwelling on past actions. The colors ultramarine
blue and gold are the colors of the Air Force. The 13
stars represent the 13 original colonies, the three star
grouping at the top portray the three Departments of the
National Defense Establishment, (Army, Navy, and Air
Force). The crest includes the American bald eagle, the
cloud formation depicts the creation of a new firmament,
and the wreath, composed of six alternate folds of silver
and blue, incorporate the colors of the basic shield
design. The roman numerals beneath the shield indicate
the year 1947, in which the Air Force was established.
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The origins of the Coast
Guard are very vague. An illustration in 1917 shows the
Coast Guard standard as a white flag with a blue eagle
and 13 stars in a semi-circle surrounding it. At a later
date, the words, "United States Coast Guard-Semper
Paratus" were added. After 1950, the semi-circle of stars
was changed to the circle containing 13 stars. The Coast
Guard standard is used during parades and ceremonies and
is adorned by 34 battle streamers. The Coast Guard is
unique to the other service because they have two
official flags, the Coast Guard standard and the Coast
Guard ensign.
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