Military flags are available for all branches of the Armed Services. Displaying them is a way for friends and family members to demonstrate that they ...
Military flags are available for all branches of the Armed Services. Displaying them is a way for friends and family members to demonstrate that they fully support those people who serve their country in this way.
Friends and family members of people serving in the Armed Forces want to show support for their loved ones,
and displaying military flags is one way they can do so. Veterans and their families may choose to display one acknowledge a person's contribution to their country. A family may choose to hang up a flag to indicate that they are awaiting the return of a loved one.
Each military flag has symbols that are meaningful and relevant to its history. For example, the U.S. Army flag has a white background and features the official seal of this organization, which is the same one used during the American Revolution for authenticating documents in the War Office. A rattlesnake holding a scroll with the words "This We'll Defend" placed in its mouth has a prominent place on the seal.
The seal of the United States Army also includes a flag dating from the Revolutionary War, a musket, a cannon, a snare drum and two bomb shells. The images on it also include a Roman cuirass. Since it was the first armed services branch created by the U.S. government, this flag is displayed first when other American Services flags are being exhibited publicly.
The selection of military flags available also includes one for the U.S. Navy. This military flag has a navy blue background and a yellow banner with the words "United States Navy" on it. The Department of the Navy Seal, which was created in 1951, is also featured on this flag.
The Navy military flag design also includes a total of 28 streamers. They date from the Revolutionary War and include the conflicts the Navy has participated in up to and including Desert Storm.
The United States Air Force flag has a blue background with the crest placed in the center. It is surrounded by 13 white stars, which represent the original colonies established in the country.
The crest includes a bald eagle with its wings outstretched. The wings frame three stars, and these represent the three branches of the military under the jurisdiction of National Defense: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. This flag has been in use since 1951.
The United States Marine Corps also has its own flag. This one is visually stunning, with its scarlet background and the Corps Emblem in gray and gold centered on it. The Emblem is bordered by a gold fringe. Battle streamers are positioned over the Emblem. The Marine Corps emblem features an eagle on a globe with an anchor around it. The Latin inscription "Semper Fidelis," which means "Always Faithful" completes the flag's design.
Families of prisoners of war (POWs) and those classified as Missing in Action (MIA) can also display a military flag if they wish. This one has a black background with a silhouette of a man's head placed in front of a guard tower and barbed wire. Underneath the image, the words "You Are Not Forgotten" appear.
This flag demonstrates that until the missing personnel are located and returned home, they continue to be in the thoughts of those they have left behind. The message is simple and poignant, as befits this situation.
When military flags are displayed, either on ceremonial occasions or by individuals who care for someone in the service, they bring to mind the rich history of the Armed Services to all who view them. Whether the flags are part of a family's tribute to a veteran, active service member or someone they are missing and will never forget, they stand out and make a definite impression.
