Benjamin Franklin once gave a speech endorsing the adoption of the Company’s flag by the United States as their national flag. However, an East India Company flag could have from nine to 13 stripes, and was not allowed to be flown outside the Indian Ocean. Both flags could have been easily constructed by adding white stripes to a British Red Ensign, one of the three maritime flags used throughout the British Empire at the time. The flag closely resembles the British East India Company flag of the era, and Sir Charles Fawcett argued in 1937 that the company flag inspired the design. The name “Grand Union” was first applied to the Continental Colors by George Preble in his 1872 history of the U.S. The Continental Navy raised the Colors as the ensign of the fledgling nation in the American War for Independence-likely with the expedient of transforming their previous British red ensigns by adding white stripes-and would use this flag until 1777, when it would form the basis for the subsequent de jure designs. The flag contemporaneously known as “the Continental Colors” has historically been referred to as the first national flag. Watch next: Chief Billy Goldfeder shares his take on firefighters displaying thin red line flags.Flag of the British East India Company, 1707–1801Īt the time of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the Continental Congress would not legally adopt flags with “stars, white in a blue field” for another year.
Half of respondents indicated that their department does not have a policy that relates to the display of flags, decals and emblems.For those respondents who do not support the display of thin red flags at fire departments or on apparatus, 68% said the primary reason was because it was an alteration of the American flag.For departments that have thin red line flags, flags are typically displayed inside the station or on fire apparatus, as opposed to outside the station, where visible to the public.Most respondents who support the thin line flags (68%) do so to honor fallen and injured firefighters.Similarly, 79% said they support fire departments displaying thin blue line flags in support of law enforcement.An overwhelming majority of respondents (88%) indicated support for the thin red line flags – and the responses were from an even mix of ranks.Respondents were fairly evenly divided among working for career, volunteer and combination departments. We received nearly 2,000 responses about this complex issue. What else should I know about the thin red line flag?įireRescue1 surveyed firefighters on the use of thin line flags in public safety. There are several retailers that currently sell thin red line flags, including: Can civilians/non-firefighters fly the thin red line flag to show their support for firefighters? Some fire departments have policies focused on the display of flags, decals and emblems so that it is clear what is and is not permissible at the station or on apparatus. Thin red line flags are sometimes displayed inside or outside fire stations or on fire apparatus, although there is debate about whether such displays should be permitted on town or city property. Where is the thin red line flag flown or displayed? And one step further, display of the thin red line flag has, to some, become conflated with the thin blue line flag. As such, some see thin blue line flags as a pushback against social injustice reform movements, like Black Lives Matter. The debate over the flags’ potential political nods is most associated with the thin blue line flag and its connection to the Blue Lives Matter movement, which was started in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. While some view the flags as representative of solidarity with public safety and a way to honor fallen or injured first responders, others simply do not agree with any alteration of the American flag, and some view the flags as representative of political statements. The thin line flags have generated debate in recent months. What is the controversy over the thin red line flag? Thin line flags for EMS (left), dispatch (middle) and corrections (right)
0 kommentar(er)
