3X5 FT COL NYL-GLO US COAST GUARD FRG

U.S. COAST GUARD FLAG FACTS

THE U.S. COAST GUARD FLAG HAS A DARK BLUE "GREAT sEAL OF THE UNITED STATES' CENTERED IN A WHITE FIELD.  THE SHIELD ON THE EAGLE'S BREAST HAS A BLUE CHIEF OVER A VERTICAL RED AND WHITE STRIPE PLATE.  INSCRIBED ABOVE IT IS "UNITED STATES COAST GUARD".  BELOW IS THE U.S.C.G. MOTTO "SEMPER PARATUS", ALWAYS READY.  BENEATH THAT IS "1790", THE YEAR THAT THE U.S.C.G. ANCESTOR, THHE U.S. RENVENUE CUTTER SERVICE WAS FOUNDED.

THE PRESENT FLAG OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD WAS ADOPTED ON JANUARY 28, 1964.  iT IS BELIEVED THAT THE DESIGN ORIGINATED AND EVOLVED FROM AN EARLY JACK.  RESEARCH SHOWS A COAST GUARD STANDARD IN 1917 AS A WHITE FLAG WITH A BLUE EAGLE AND THIRTEEN STARS IN A SEMICIRCLE.  LATER "SEMPER PARATUS" WAS ADDED.  AFTER 1950 THE SEMICIRCLE WITH STARS CHANGED TO THIRTEEN STARS WITHIN A CIRCLE.  THE STANDARD IS USED IN PARADES AND CEREMONIES.

THE U.S. COAST GUARD IS UNIQUE TO THE OTHER BRANCES OF THE SERVICE AS IT HAS TWO OFFICIAL FLAGS, THE STANDARD AND THE ENSIGN.