Have you seen the flag of the United States Army? It features a blue variant of the War Office Seal against a white background. Below the War Office Seal is a scroll with the words “United States Army,” followed by the year 1775. Some people assume that the U.S. Army Flag originated in 1775, but this isn’t the case. While the year 1775 is significant to our nation’s history, the U.S. Army flag didn’t appear until nearly two centuries later.
Origins of the US Army Flag
The U.S. Army flag was officially adopted on June 12, 1956. Prior to this period, the U.S. Army didn’t have a flag. The U.S. Marines, Coast Guard and other branches of the military had a flag. The U.S. Army was actually the only branch of the military that didn’t have a flag.
In 1955, Army Secretary Wilber Brucker proposed designs for an official flag. Brucker acknowledged the need for an official flag, which prompted him to seek designs. The U.S. Army ultimately came up with the flag’s design. As shown in the photo above, it features the War Office Seal with a scroll and the year 1775.
Why the US Army Flag Features the Year 1775
While the U.S. Army flag features the year 1775 displayed at the bottom, the flag itself wasn’t adopted until 1956. You might be wondering why the U.S. Army decided to include the year 1775 in the flag’s design.
The year 1775 is significant because it represents the beginning of the Continental Army. In 1775, George Washington formed the Continental Army. The Continental Army, of course, paved the way for the modern-day U.S. Army. Therefore, the year 1775 was included in the U.S. Army flag’s design.
Unveiling the US Army Flag
On June 14, 1956, the U.S. Army flag was unveiled to the public. The U.S. Army held a ceremony at the Independence Hall in Philadelphia, during which it unveiled the new flag. Reports show that the original U.S. Army flag displayed at the Independence Hall measured 4 feet and 4 inches by 5 feet and 6 inches.
Today, the U.S. Army flag is proudly displayed at military bases, businesses and residential homes. It still features the same design as it did in the past. While now available in different sizes, the U.S. Army flag features the War Office Seal along with the words “United States Army” and the year 1775. The year 1775 represents the year in which George Washington formed the Continental Army.