United States of America

Last modified: 2000-01-14 by rick wyatt
Keywords: usa | united states | america | folding | proportions |
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by Zeljko Heimer, 13 February 1996
Flag adopted 4 July 1960, coat of arms adopted 7 July 1884.

• National Color
• Proportions/Flag Sizes
• Presidential flag
• Departmental flags
• Naval Jack
• Flags of 50 States and one District
• Evolution of the Stars and Stripes
• Air Force flags
• Army flags
• More Army flags
• Coast Guard flags
• Marine Corps flags
• Navy flags
• Service Star flags of WWI/WWII
• Customs Service flag
• Maritime flags
• Storm Signal flags
• Merchant Marine flag
• Historical flags
• Commemorative flags
• Confederate Flags
• Regional flags
• Happy birthday US flag!
• Afro-American flags
• Native Americans
• Five-pointed stars on flags
• A 39 star flag?
• Space Shuttle flags
• Flag laws in the United States
• Legend of Old Glory
• Books on US flags
• NEVA (New England Vexillological Association)
• NAVA(North American Vexillological Association)
• Guam
• Puerto Rico
• American Samoa
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Virgin Islands
• US Minor Outlying Islands
• Democratic Party
• Republican Party
• Youth International Party
• National Geographic Society

See also:

• United States Flag History Pages by Dave Martucci
• Flag burning debate
• The Fringe argument
• Folding the U.S. flag
• Where flag flies 24 hours a day
• Clickable map of the United States

by Tom Gregg, 30 September 1998

Usage: This version of the US National Flag, called the National Color, is used on parade and for indoor display with all other types of Army flags and colors. For example, all regiments, battalions of regiments and separate battalions are authorized a "stand of colors"--the National Color and their Organizational Color.

Dimensions: 3' at the hoist by 4' on the fly with 2 1/2" yellow fringe, i.e. the same as for Army flags and colors. (For display with larger size Army flags and colors, e.g. the Organizational Color of the US Corps of Cadets, dimensions are 4'4" at the hoist by 5'6" on the fly with 2 1/2" yellow fringe.)

Tom Gregg, 30 September 1998

United States flag law does not specify the proportions of the flag. The proportions of 10:19, so often quoted, are the product of an executive order of the president, and are actually binding only in certain military uses. The United States government buys and uses flags in several other proportions (2:3, 3:5, 5:8) for numerous civilian and military applications. Private citizens are free to use their own judgment.

John Ayer, 6 February 1999