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
Continental 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 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
Bedford Flag was one of the first
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. • The
Fort Mercer Flag which had an inverted color scheme.
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 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. •
Old Glory gained fame in the story of Captain
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 in 1813. • The
United States Space Command uses a
unique flag along with the flags of the service flags. == See also ==