Flags of the United States Armed Forces

Officers with certain offices or billets, as well as all generals and admirals, have a personal flag assigned to represent their authority and/or command,^[12] thus they are often referred to as "flag officers". Ashore, the flags are usually displayed within the owner's office or raised on a secondary flagstaff near the unit colors, while if the officer embarked they are flown aboard ship according to rank. The appearance consists of a number of stars equal to the officer's rank insignia, the colors determined by service: red with white stars for the Army and Marine Corps, blue with white stars for Naval commanders and Air Force. Certain staff and non-line officers have unique colors: white with blue stars for non-command Navy admirals,^[13] while Army chaplains and medical generals use ecclesiastical purple and maroon backgrounds, respectively.^[14]

Unique flags are given to the

In addition, the Navy will display the flag of the Secretary of State when the secretary is embarked as the representative of the United States. Other diplomatic personnel are also afforded a consular flag when embarked. The Coast Guard, being part of the Department of Homeland Security, will utilize the Secretary's flag much like the Navy will utilize the SecDef's.

Others

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Many other flags are traditionally associated with the military.

American Revolution

Not having made an official design until 1777, numerous distinct flags were carried into battle by American forces. Even after, the vague wording of the Flag Resolution of 1777 led to many designs.

• The most commonly carried pre-1777 flags was the Grand Union Flag, resembling closely the flag of the British East India Company.
• The Gadsden flag was created from a political cartoon, it was first seen carried into battle by Continental Marines.
• Legend holds that the Betsy Ross flag was the first version of the current American flag, and is depicted in artwork featuring General George Washington.
• The Francis Hopkinson version is also claimed to be the first flag carried into battle by American troops.
• The Serapis ensign was flown from the captured HMS Serapis due to the loss of the standard ensign during the Battle of Flamborough Head.
• The Cowpens flag was depicted as being carried by the 3rd Maryland Regiment at the Battle of Cowpens (while proven that the unit was not at Cowpens, the name and pattern remained popular).
• The Bennington flag is commonly held to have been carried by American troops at the Battle of Bennington.
• The Guilford Courthouse flag was carried by the North Carolina militia at the Battle of Guilford Court House.
• Several versions of the Flag of New England were carried by New England militias, especially noted at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• The Pine Tree Flag found some limited use as a jack by early Naval vessels and boats.
• The
  battle standards
  of the American military.
• The Brandywine flag was carried by the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine.
• The 2nd Canadian Regiment, not being American, carried their own flag into battle when fighting for the Continental Army.
• The Commander-in-Chief's Guard carried a unique banner while they protected General Washington.
• The Flag of the Green Mountain Boys was the battle color of the Green Mountain Boys and the Vermont Republic prior to its admission to the Union.

Others

• The
  Star Spangled Banner Flag or Great Garrison Flag was flown over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner". It ultimately became the U.S. national anthem
  .
• A flag proclaiming "Come and take it", in reference to a cannon the Mexican Army was attempting to seize, was fashioned by Texans at the battle of Battle of Gonzales.
• The brief existence of the Confederate States of America yielded the creation of several flags used by the Confederate Army and Navy.
• The Fort Sumter Flag gained significance for its unique canton and its lowering at the Battle of Fort Sumter.
• William Driver
  keeping it safe from Confederate capture and eventually became the nickname for the Flag of the United States itself.
• The
  POW/MIA flag became a symbol of concern about military personnel taken as prisoners of war and missing in action
  .
• Recipients of the Medal of Honor also receive a flag based upon the design of the ribbon.
• The Air National Guard uses a unique flag in addition to the Air Force flag.
• The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary uses a flag based on the flag of the United States Coast Guard.
• The Civil Air Patrol uses a flag based on the Air Force flag.
• "Don't Give Up the Ship", words on the battle flag of Oliver Hazard Perry aboard the brig USS Niagara in 1813.
• The United States Space Command uses a unique flag along with the flags of the service flags.

See also

• Guidon (United States)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military flags of the United States.

• The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army
• Military Flags (U.S.) at Flags of the World