Pieces of cloth in different colors, shapes, and patterns flap and snap in the breeze. They usually hang from poles or staffs. They stand as proud symbols for countries, states, persons, or groups. Sometimes, they are waved as a signal to people. What are these high-flying spectacles? Flags, of course!
NATIONAL FLAGS
The most important and best-known flags are national flags. A national flag stands for the people of a country. Every country has its own unique flag. The national flag of the United States is famous for its stars and stripes and colors of red, white, and blue. Most countries, including the United States and Canada, have a number of official flags. Some flags represent smaller areas of countries. Every state in the United States and every province in Canada has its own flag. Many cities have their own flags, too. Many countries create special flags for important government leaders. The U.S. president, vice president, and cabinet members all have unique flags.
MILITARY FLAGS
Most countries have special military flags. In the United States, different military units carry different flags. The U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps all fly different flags. Navies fly flags on ships at sea. A national flag shows a ship’s nationality. Other flags are used for signaling, or sending messages, to other ships. Military units on land carry their own flags. Larger units, such as U.S. Army regiments, carry special flags, called colors. Smaller army units often fly their own flags, too. Hundreds of years ago, soldiers known as knights charged into battle beneath fluttering pennants. A pennant is a triangle-shaped flag. Today, many military units still carry pennants.
PERSONAL FLAGS
Long before there were national flags, kings and nobles flew their own flags. They decorated their flags with their family crest. The largest flag, called a standard, marked the presence of a king. Other nobles flew flags of different sizes and shapes based on their rank. As kings shaped their lands into nations, national flags grew in importance. Today, we recognize countries all around the world by their unique flags, called national standards. But most royal families still fly their own special flags.
NATIONAL FLAGS
The most important and best-known flags are national flags. A national flag stands for the people of a country. Every country has its own unique flag. The national flag of the United States is famous for its stars and stripes and colors of red, white, and blue. Most countries, including the United States and Canada, have a number of official flags. Some flags represent smaller areas of countries. Every state in the United States and every province in Canada has its own flag. Many cities have their own flags, too. Many countries create special flags for important government leaders. The U.S. president, vice president, and cabinet members all have unique flags.
MILITARY FLAGS
Most countries have special military flags. In the United States, different military units carry different flags. The U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps all fly different flags. Navies fly flags on ships at sea. A national flag shows a ship’s nationality. Other flags are used for signaling, or sending messages, to other ships. Military units on land carry their own flags. Larger units, such as U.S. Army regiments, carry special flags, called colors. Smaller army units often fly their own flags, too. Hundreds of years ago, soldiers known as knights charged into battle beneath fluttering pennants. A pennant is a triangle-shaped flag. Today, many military units still carry pennants.
PERSONAL FLAGS
Long before there were national flags, kings and nobles flew their own flags. They decorated their flags with their family crest. The largest flag, called a standard, marked the presence of a king. Other nobles flew flags of different sizes and shapes based on their rank. As kings shaped their lands into nations, national flags grew in importance. Today, we recognize countries all around the world by their unique flags, called national standards. But most royal families still fly their own special flags.
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