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Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated: However, the colors in the Great Seal of the United States did have specific meanings. Originally, the colors red, white and blue had neither specific meaning nor representation when the flag was adopted in 1777. "The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."Īlternating in red and white, the 13 stripes also represent the 13 original colonies that joined together to declare their independence from Britain in order to establish themselves as a sovereign nation. Found from a book about the symbolism of the American Flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives we read:
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This number has followed the growth of the united-states since its infancy.
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Beginning with 13, the now 50 stars displayed in the canton of the flag represent the current number of states in the union. Watch next: Chief Billy Goldfeder shares his take on firefighters displaying thin red line flags.The Symbolism of the American Flag is of revolutionary significance. 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: 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.Ĭan civilians/non-firefighters fly the thin red line flag to show their support for firefighters? 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)
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