[KenGilkey]

I'm a newbie on this forum, and I have read a lot of the questions & answers.
Lots of information on here, but could not find what I was looking for. The proper line up of American Flags in parades or lineup of posted colors.

I know the 50 star is first, but in what order do the rest of the star flags come.
50 star, Betsy, then the 14 star or the 49 star ? The 14, 15, on up or the 49, 48, on down ? Or, does the Betsy not line up second. Are there any official flag codes on the proper line-up or just personal opinions?

From my research the Grand Union/Continental Congress Colors does not qualify as an "official" U S flag, as it was used before the Declaration Of Independence or before the UNITED States were formed. It should be lined up as a battle flag. But, this is another argument as well as Elizabeth Ross Claypool or Francis Hopkinson, which one did MAKE the first flag.

[Peter Ansoff]

Greetings, Ken!

I know the 50 star is first, but in what order do the rest of the star flags come. 50 star, Betsy, then the 14 star or the 49 star ? The 14, 15, on up or the 49, 48, on down ? Or, does the Betsy not line up second. Are there any official flag codes on the proper line-up or just personal opinions?

As far as I know, there is no official guidance about this. It is not mentioned in the flag code or in any of the services' regulations. I think it's a case of "whatever looks good."

Grand Union/Continental Congress Colors does not qualify as an "official" U S flag, as it was used before the Declaration Of Independence or before the UNITED States were formed.

Actually, this is not so. The "Continental Colors" was still recognized as the American flag when the Declaration was signed, and it remained so for almost a year afterwards. It flew over the Battery Fort in New York when the British attacked in late July 1776, and also over the ships of the American squadron on Lake Champlain in the fall of 1776.

As to whether the Continental Colors was "officially" a US flag, that's a matter of definition. It was never offically adopted, but Americans considered it to be their flag, and fought and died under it. This issue is discussed in more detail else where in the forum. See:

www.usa-flag-site.org/forum/grand-union-offical-u-s-flag-1688.html

But, this is another argument as well as Elizabeth Ross Claypool or Francis Hopkinson, which one did MAKE the first flag.

Hopkinson never claimed to have made the first flag, but only that he had created the design. Betsy's supposed claims are based on her grandson's memories of what she told him when he was a boy, decades after the fact. I'd say it's doubtful that we will ever know for sure what really happened.

Best,

Peter Ansoff

[KenGilkey]

Peter,

As to whether the Continental Colors was "officially" a US flag, that's a matter of definition. It was never offically adopted, but Americans considered it to be their flag, and fought and died under it.

But, on the other side of the argument, there were lots of flags that were fought and died under and they are considered "battle flags".

I think it's a case of "whatever looks good."

Or in other words, all these questions are really still ones own opinions, as there are really no "official" guidelines to go by.
Thanks for the input.

[Robin Hickman]

Greetings, KenGilkey !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-Site forums !


Your question regarding the "line-up" of U.S. Flags is an interesting one. Until I read Peter's first response, I had no idea that there wasn't an "official" way, or official "guidance" of doing the "line-up". I was NOT, however, surprised by his thought on "whatever looks good". It really makes sense, especially in light of the absense of "official" guidelines.

So... "whatever looks good"? I suppose THAT would be in the eyes of the beholders.

I think that they (the U.S. Flags) might very well be divided into three (3) groups. The current ("official") 50 Star flag, the "historical" Stars & Stripes flags, and the "other" historical Flags. I think there are two ways of deciding how they might best be grouped, and both ways are based on "Time". One way would be to move "forward" through time, and the other would be to move "backward" in time. In either case, the 50 Star Flag would be First & Foremost.

For What It's Worth (FWIW): I think that the "Betsy Ross" Flag (13 Stars arranged in a circle representing a "New Constellation") should MOST definitely be included !!!


Thank you for bringing your Flag-related question to our forums!


Robin Hickman

[Peter Ansoff]

But, on the other side of the argument, there were lots of flags [besides the Continental Colors] that were fought and died under and they are considered "battle flags".

This is true. However, those "battle flags" were regimental or other unit colors -- they represented particular military formations or regional organizations, rather than the nation as a whole. The Continental Colors was different. It was created as an ensign for the Continental Navy, not for any particular formation. Right from the beginning, it was generally recognized as the flag of the Continental forces as a whole. Even the British referred to it as the American "ensign."

The Continental Colors was also the direct ancestor of the stars and stripes. When the latter was adopted in 1777, Ezra Stiles wrote in his diary, "The Congress have substituted a new Constella[tion] of Stars (instead of the Union) in the Continental Colours." As he and others saw it, Congress had not created a new flag for the USA -- it had just updated the flag that they already had. By any reasonable definition, the Continental Colors was the first flag of the United Colonies and (after July 1776) of the United States.

Peter Ansoff