Why American Flag Called "The Colors"

[EmailPoster]

Could you please tell me how our flag came to be known as the colors....

Could you please tell me how our flag came to be known as the Colors.

Thank you.

Mary Helen Sloan.

[sarahw]

Mary,

The flag has many nicknames such as Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes, and, of course, the Star Spangled Banner. I think calling it by the shorthand "the colors" comes from the military, where the people in charge of carrying the flags in ceremonies are known as the color guard. The color guard protects "the colors," that is, the flags.

Being part of a color guard is a prestigious honor. A color guard is usually made up of two sergeants and two experienced privates. The senior officer holds the American flag, while the other members carry the military branch flag, their regiment or division flag, or rifles. There may be as few as three members of a color guard and there can be more than four depending on the number of flags that are being carried.

Sarah