Flags of the USA

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Flags of the United States of America

National flag and ensign

The flag of the United States consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies. The United States flag is commonly called "the Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory," with the latter nickname coined by Captain William Driver, a 19th century shipmaster.

So-called First Navy Jack. Once credited by historians as having been used as naval jack, ca.1775–1776, but recent investigations have proven this false. Designated as the US Jack 2002-present.

Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton of the U.S. national flag is called the "union." This part of the national flag also serves as a flag in its own right: the Union Jack used as a maritime flag. The Union Jack served as the naval jack for U.S. warships until 2002, when it was replaced by the First Navy Jack as part of the War on Terrorism. However, the Union Jack continues to be used as a jack by U.S. vessels outside the Navy, including those of the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA. (The more famous "Union Jack" is, of course, the British version).

Union Jack. Used as naval jack, 1960–2002.

In blazons (a vexillological description using flag terminology), the U.S. flag is described as "a banner Gules, six bars Argent; the canton Azure charged with 50 mullets Argent". This translates to a red flag with six white horizontal stripes; the top left quarter is blue with 50 white stars.

Information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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