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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