Today’s special flag is the flag of the United States Army.
The modern United States Army has its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. Today’s Army is the world’s strongest with almost half a million Soldiers on active duty with another half million in the Reserves and National Guard. Today we honor the millions of men and women who have proudly served their country as soldiers in the United States Army.
Today’s special flag is the flag of the United States Navy.
The United States Navy traces its roots to 1775 when the Continental Congress passed a resolution urging the individual colonies to build and equip fleets. Today’s Navy has nearly 500,000 men and women on active duty or in the Navy Reserve and operates 278 ships in active service and more than 4,000 aircraft. Today we honor the men and women who have proudly served their country in the United States Navy.
Today’s special flag is the flag of the United States Marine Corps.
The United States Marine Corps was originally organized as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and assist in landing forces. Owing to the availability of Marines at sea, the Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict going back to the Revolutionary War. Today the Marines serve in a wide variety of roles – from amphibious operations to urban warfare to guarding embassies around the world. Today we honor the men and women who have proudly served their country in the United States Marine Corps.
Today’s special flag is the flag of the United States Air Force.
The Air Force traces its roots to the earliest days of aviation. In 1907, just a few short years after the Wright Brothers first flight, military aircraft operations were assigned to the Aeronautical Division of the US Army Signal Corps. This eventually gave way to formation of the Army Air Corps in 1926 and the Army Air Forces just prior to World War II in 1941. The US Air Force became a separate service on September 18, 1947. Today the Air Force’s responsibilities have expanded beyond just aircraft to also include military applications in space and the new computer and internet world, cyberspace. Today we honor the men and women who have proudly served their country in the United States Air Force.
Today’s special flag is the flag of the United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard, one of the country's five armed services, is also one of the most unique agencies of the federal government. The Coast Guard traces its history back to 4 August 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of the federal revenue. Known variously as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service, it expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.
The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the Life-Saving Service. The nation now had a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. The Coast Guard began to maintain the country's aids to maritime navigation, including operating the nation's lighthouses, when the Lighthouse Service was transferred to it in 1939. .
The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government and, until the Navy Department was established in 1798, it served as the nation's only armed force afloat. The Coast Guard has served the nation through a long and distinguished history and has served proudly in every one of the nation's conflicts. Our national defense responsibilities remain one of the most important functions, even today.
In times of peace the Coast Guard operates as part of the Department of Homeland Security, serving as the nation's front-line agency for enforcing laws at sea, protecting the coastline and ports, and saving lives. In times of war, or on direction of the President, the Coast Guard serves under the Navy Department.
Today’s special flag is the First Navy Jack
In the fall of 1775, as the first ships of the Continental Navy readied in the Delaware River, Commodore Esek Hopkins issued, in a set of fleet signals, an instruction directing his vessels to fly a striped Jack and Ensign (these are national flags flown on ships). In retrospect this has been taken as the first U.S. Navy Jack. and has traditionally been shown as consisting of thirteen red and white stripes with a superimposed rattlesnake and the motto "Dont Tread on Me". The rattlesnake had long been a symbol of resistance to the British in Colonial America. The phrase “Don't tread on me” was coined during the American Revolutionary War. The rattlesnake - the Timber Rattlesnake - is especially significant and symbolic to the American Revolution. The rattle has thirteen layers, signifying the 13 original colonies. And, the snake does not strike until provoked, a method embodied in the phrase "Don't tread on me."
The First Navy Jack was first used in recent history during the Bicentennial year, 1976, when all commissioned naval vessels were directed to fly it for the entire year, in lieu of the standard fifty-star jack.
In 1980, Edward Hidalgo, the Secretary of the Navy, directed that the ship with the longest active status shall display the First Navy Jack until decommissioned or transferred to inactive service. Then the flag will be passed to the next ship in line. This honor currently belongs to the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) which was commissioned in 1961. In 2002 the Secretary of the Navy issued an instruction directing all United States Navy ships to fly this flag in honor of those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, and directing that it be flown for the duration of the War on Terrorism.
Today’s special flag is The Continental Flag (also called the Bunker Hill Flag)
This flag uses a version of the British Red Ensign or Meteor flag with a green New England Pine tree substituted for the Union flag in the canton. The Continental flag is believed to have been carried at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Today’s special flag is The Bennington Flag
Many authorities believe the Bennington flag was the first Stars and Stripes used by American land troops. Tradition says that it was flown the battle at Bennington on August 16, 1777 where an American force of 2,000 New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark with aid from Colonel Seth Warner, defeated a combined force of 1,250 Brunswick mercenaries, Canadians, Loyalists, and Native Americans led by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum.
Today’s special flag is The Betsy Ross Flag
According to legend, in June 1776 Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, received a visit from George Washington, George Ross and Robert Morris of the Continental Congress. She had met Washington through their mutual worship at Christ Church. The three men showed her a suggested design that was drawn up by Washington in pencil. The design had six-pointed stars, and Betsy, the family story goes, suggested five-pointed stars instead because she could make a five-pointed star in one snip. The flag was sewn by Betsy in her parlor. The flag was flown when the Declaration of Independence was read aloud at Independence Hall on July 8, 1776. It was used as the official flag of the United States from June 14, 1777 to May 1, 1795. There are 13 stripes representing the 13 original colonies and the 13 stars were placed in a circle because, according to legend, George Washington said, "Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens."
Today’s special flag is The Star Spangled Banner
During the night of September 13, 1814, the British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry in the harbor at Baltimore, Maryland. Francis Scott Key, a 34-year old lawyer-poet, watched the attack from the deck of a British prisoner-exchange ship. He had gone to seek the release of a friend but they were refused permission to go ashore until after the attack had been made.
As the battle ceased on the following morning, Key turned his telescope to the fort and saw that the American flag was still waving. The sight so inspired him that he pulled a letter from his pocket and began to write the poem which eventually was adopted as the national anthem of the United States -- "The Star Spangled Banner."
Key was returned to Baltimore and later that day took a room at a Baltimore tavern where he completed the poem. Years later, Key told a hometown audience in Frederick, Maryland:
I saw the flag of my country waving over a city -- the strength and pride of my native State -- a city devoted to plunder and desolation by its assailants. I witnessed the preparation for its assaults. I saw the array of its enemies as they advanced to the attack. I heard the sound of battle; the noise of the conflict fell upon my listening ear, and told me that 'the brave and the free' had met the invaders.
The flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes – at the time a new stripe was being added for each state that joined the union. The original is in the Smithsonian Institution.
As this historic flag is still recognized as an official United States flag and is flown over Ft McHenry, it is afforded the honors of our national flag.
Today’s special flag is The Culpeper Militia Flag
This flag was first flown by the militia from Culpeper County, Virginia during the Revolutionary War. It was also flown by several Civil War units from that area and today is the official flag of Culpeper County