with the purchase of our 250th Anniversary or American Flags.
At Federal Flags, we appreciate the vast power of flags of all types to represent and rally countless groups and causes in a moving and transcendent way that is instantaneous and often beyond the scope of mere words. Of course, our most popular flag is the American Flag, the more than 250-year-old “Star-Spangled Banner.” In times of peace, our national banner has sparked gratitude in citizens for our national unity and perseverance and motivated change so that our unwavering commitment to “liberty and justice” for all refuses to falter. In times of war, the American Flag has served as a rallying beacon throughout the trials, tribulations, and sacrifices inherent in armed conflicts. Thus, the American Flag has served U.S. citizens as much as U.S. citizens have served the U.S. Flag. In a very palpable way, flags have shaped our history, and history has shaped our flags.
But while the American Flag is certainly the banner most capable of galvanizing U.S. citizens and representing our eternal commitment to values like liberty and a never-say-die attitude, countless other flags have influenced our history as well. During the American Revolution, Patriot forces employed several flags to identify their units and provide a rallying point for their troops. During the Civil War, regimental flags were so beloved by the troops fighting under either side that scores of men would vie for the high privilege of holding their regimental flagstaffs and flying their unique and often colorful banners, even though being entrusted with this honor often meant almost certain death from bullets fired by enemy soldiers searching for a conspicuous target amidst the smoke and confusion of the battlefield.
The flags we fly largely reflect our most cherished values. These values, in turn, shape our history and the course that history ultimately takes. Join us in American History Unfurled for a firsthand appreciation of the manifold ways these dual truths have shaped the United States of America, in good times and bad, throughout its proud existence.
The Sons of Liberty Flag was the first enduring symbol of American resistance, waving from Liberty Trees, meeting halls, and protests long before the Stars and Stripes. Its bold red and white stripes represented unity, defiance, and the fight for liberty. Patriots displayed it to send a powerful message that freedom must be defended.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus carried a white-and-green banner across the Atlantic and raised it upon first landfall in the New World. The Christopher Columbus Flag served as a ceremonial and political symbol of exploration, royal authority, and early European arrival in the Americas.
Discover the story behind Washington’s Cruisers’ Flag, a simple pine tree banner that became a powerful symbol of moral courage during the American Revolution. Explore how this emblem of faith and justice helped shape the nation’s fight for liberty and left a lasting mark on American history.
The Alamo 1824 Flag flew over a desperate last stand, a symbol of broken promises, resistance, and courage against impossible odds. More than just a banner, it captured the spirit of Texans defying tyranny and turned a doomed mission into a rallying cry that shaped history.
The 1st Navy Jack, with its rattlesnake and defiant “Don’t Tread on Me,” was America’s first bold declaration of resistance at sea. Born from a fledgling navy facing the world’s mightiest fleet, it became a symbol of courage, unity, and the unwavering fight for liberty that still inspires sailors today.
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864, was a brutal but ultimately unsuccessful Union assault against entrenched Confederate forces, marked by extraordinary acts of courage, staggering casualties, and a symbolic stand for American unity and sacrifice.
During the War of 1812, Mary Pickersgill’s hand-sewn flag made from the wool of English sheep, along with Francis Scott Key’s inspired poem, helped create the enduring symbol of American resilience now known as the Star-Spangled Banner.
The fierce Battle of Iwo Jima saw Marines fight through deadly defenses to capture Mount Suribachi. Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photo of the flag raising captured a moment of courage and unity, becoming an enduring symbol of American strength and sacrifice.
Flag Day and the U.S. Flag Code helped shape how Americans honor Old Glory, with several editions refining the rules over time to keep this symbol of unity and history respected.