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Flags of the U.S. Marine Corps |
The first organizational color known to have been used by the Marine Corps was white with an elaborate painted design depicting an eagle flying with an anchor in its talons, surrounded by an ornate gold framework and bearing the motto, "To the shores of Tripoli." Marines in the Mexican and Civil Wars carried battle flags similar to the national ensign, but with the blue union containing an eagle perched atop the national shield within a ring of stars, and with additional stars in an arc above the ring, the total equalling the number of states in the Union. In 1881, the Corps adopted a color of blue silk, 72 by 78 inches, with the eagle, globe, and anchor embroidered in gold and silver thread, surrounded by a wreath of green oak leaves.
The current design, scarlet with the corps badge in gray and yellow, was adopted in 1939, although Marine Corps Order 4 had established scarlet and gold and the official colors of the Corps as early as 1925. The battle color measures 52 by 66 inches and is trimmed on three sides with 2 1/2 inch golden yellow fringe. The official battle color of the Corps is maintained by Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, and carried on parade by the color sergeant of the Marine Corps. In addition to the battle streamers affixed to the top of the staff, the staff itself is covered with sterling silver bands engraved with the names of actions in which the Corps has been engaged. The staff is topped with a chrome-plated spearhead finial.
The use of flags in the Marine Corps is governed by Navy Regulations and MCO P10520.3B, Flag Manual.
The organizational
battle color (called a standard when mounted on a vehicle) is carried by
units of the Operating Forces and other designated formations. It measures 52 by 66 inches, is
made of rayon banner cloth with the Marine Corps badge embroidered on the
center, and carries the unit designation on a white scroll. The abbreviation "F.M.F." for "Fleet Marine
Force," formerly inscribed following the unit designation, was abolished in 2003.
The flag is trimmed on three sides with golden-yellow
fringe. The staff is topped by a nickel- or chrome-plated spearhead
and has fastened to it the battle
streamers to which the unit is entitled. In garrison, the national
and organizational colors or standards are kept by the commanding officer
when they are not in use, normally uncased and displayed in his or her
office. Colors or standards are never allowed to touch the "deck,"
i.e., the floor or ground.
Other Marine Corps units are entitled to an organizational color without the unit designation. Instead, they carry a flag identical to the Battle Color of the Corps, with "United States Marine Corps" on the scroll, but with a scarlet and gold cord and tassels attached to the staff instead of battle streamers, and without the silver bands on the staff.
The guidon is
the identifying flag of a company or similar size unit, such as an artillery
battery or aviation squadron. Marine Corps guidons are rectangular
scarlet flags measuring 22 by 28 inches with the Corps badge in silhouette
in the center in yellow and the unit designation in block letters in the
lower corners. At the option of higher headquarters, guidons may or may not
have the letters "USMC" in an arc above the badge. The abbreviation "FMF" formerly used
for guidons of units of the Fleet Marine Force was abolished in early 2003.
The basic design was adopted by a set
of specifications issued on January 25, 1939. Guidons are carried
on all occasions of ceremony when a company or equivalent unit is represented
by two or more platoons. In garrison, they may be displayed outside
the company headquarters between the hours of morning and evening colors
except in inclement weather or when the company is using the guidon in
formation.
With the exception of the Commandant, Marine Corps general officers display personal distinguishing flags measuring 36 by 52 inches. These flags, which are made of rayon banner cloth and trimmed with golden yellow fringe, are used for indoor display and carried on staffs on ceremonial occasions. There are also equivalent flags without fringe flown on halyards to indicate the location of a general's headquarters (58 by 72 1/2 inches) and to be "broken" at the top of a pole during parades and when rendering honors (45 by 63 1/2 inches). In addition, there are 12 by 15 inch versions for display on automobiles. Use of these flags is governed by Navy Regulations and the Marine Corps Flag Manual (MCO P10520.3B).
The Commandant
of the Marine Corps has the only personal flag among the chiefs of the
five armed forces that is not divided diagonally into two colors.
The basic design of this flag dates back into at least the 1920s, when
the Commandant, then the only major general in the Corps, flew a scarlet
flag with the eagle, globe, and anchor badge in yellow above two white
stars. As the grade of the Commandant was increased in World War
II, stars were added to this basic design until that used today was attained. When manufactured
in bunting for display from halyards, the eagle, globe and anchor are solid yellow.
Sea
Flags
Copyright 2000, 2001 by Joseph McMillan