I originally wrote this in December of 2017. This update, December of 2023, includes links to other articles to help fully explain the issues.
Please read about the difference between a flag and a color.
According to the US Army, fringe is an honorable enrichment only, not an integral part of the color. As it is attached on the edge, it does not “deface” the color which therefore remains the Stars and Stripes of the US. Originally, fringe was used to create a static charge that actually helped keep the flag clean.
See also: All About The Flag. and especially, Flag, Fringe and Finial Theory.
EO 10834
There are many posts that posit the theory that the fringe represents martial or admiralty law. However there is no law, decree, order or other legally enforceable proclamation that mentions the fringe, either to prescribe or proscribe its use. Some quote Executive Order 10834 (under President Eisenhower) however this is a public document available in full on the Internet and a review will show no mention of a fringe. Click here for the text of Executive Order 10834 (1959) on the make up of the American flag.
Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1
This is what we call the Flag Code. This section of the US Code governs the flag. There is nothing that says that a civilian or civilian organization may not display a flag with a gold fringe. This does not include veteran organizations whose members are required to follow Army or Marine Corps guidance.
Indoor/Outdoor vs. Outside
“Fringe is for indoor flags only.” That is a reply I received from an Air Force Base Honor Guard member years ago who received bad training. If what she wrote to me is so, then someone had better tell the Joint Service Color Guard pictured at the top of this post. When a color is mounted on a flagstaff that is to be carried and you are in a military color team, for the Army, Air Force, and Space Force, all the colors better have fringe on them. That is the standard. The same goes for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard, except the Marine Corps forbids fringe on the US.
An indoor/outdoor flag, has a staff sleeve (pole hem) and is called a color. This hem is a sleeve that fits over the flagstaff. This is the type of color that must have fringe for military color guards.
An “outside flag” (my term) has a header with grommets. This type of flag (not a color) is not attached to a flagstaff to be carried by a color guard, it is attached to clips on a halyard and raised outside on a flagpole.
Service Standards
Gold fringe can be found on ceremonial flags used indoors and for outdoor ceremonies. The fringe is considered completely within the guidelines of proper flag etiquette. There is nothing in the Flag Code about the fringe being for federal government flags only.
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/faq.htm
- Army “1–7. Materials, Flags designed primarily for indoor and parade display will normally be made of banner rayon or heavy-weight nylon with rayon fringe. Those designed primarily for outdoor display will be made of nylon-wool or heavyweight nylon without fringe.”
- Air Force AFI 90-1201 “2.9.1. Materials. Flags designed primarily for indoor and parade display will normally be made of rayon or heavyweight nylon with rayon fringe.” Same for the USSF.
- Space Force departmental, organizational, and general officer flags must have silver-colored fringe. This is mandatory and you must request it from the flag company.
- Marine Corps requires fringe on all colors except the national flag with fringe.
- MCO 10520.3 Chapter 3, para. 2. “d. The fringe shall be hand-knotted 2 1/2-inches wide, of golden-yellow color, and trimmed on three sides of the standard.” This quote applies to all Marine Corps organizational colors.
- MCO 5060.20, Chapter 7, para. 1, “p. The use of gold fringe on the U.S. Flag is expressly forbidden for Marine Corps organizations.” (emphasis mine) This is because the Flag Code states that nothing will be attached to the American flag.
- Navy, and Coast Guard have fringe on all colors. NTP 13(B) “FRINGE, The Navy’s policy regarding fringe on the national ensign is as follows: a. Fringe will not be attached to the national ensign when displayed out-of-doors.” This means an “outside” flag.
- The Navy Infantry Battalion Color does not receive fringe even though it is displayed on a flagpole and carried in a color guard. This flag is not flown on a mast.
The reason why the word “primarily” (as in “Those designed primarily for outdoor display”) is written here is because of boat flags. Boat flags can have a staff sleeve for flying on a mast on the boat and can be carried on a color guard. The AF/SF just copied the Army and the Navy has the same wording because of flag displays at sea and on land.
What about the cord and tassels?
The gold cord and tassels is not authorized on any flag displayed in the US military.
Army and Air Force – Any cord and tassels is not authorized on any color guard flag.
Marine Corps – Battle Streamers OR a scarlet and gold cord for the USMC fringed color.
Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard – The colors of the cord and tassel for the national color are red, white, and blue.
Comments 8
I just want to make sure i am understanding everything correctly:
For the State flags, does the pole also have to be 9.5ft?
Is it supposed to have a spade or Eagle guidon?
Does the indoor have the flag sleeve and outdoors has gromets?
For a Navy color guard.
1. If we are outdoors all flags except the ENS has fringe? These have the gromets
2. If we are indoors all of the flags have fringe? These have a pole sleeve
3. All would be flown on a 9.5 ft pole and all flags would be 4’4″x5’6″?
4. If we have a tassel on the ENS do we have to have tassels on the rest of the branch flags?
Author
Hello Ma’am,
I merged your two comments and I will answer here:
For the State flags, does the pole also have to be 9.5ft?
– Army and AF/SF can use the 8′ staff with 3’x4′ colors. See TC 3-21.5 and AFI 90-1201.
– The sea services are required to carry 4’4″x5’6″ flags/colors on 9’5″ flagstaffs. See MCO 5060.20.
Is it supposed to have a spade or Eagle guidon?
– The Army, MC, AF/SF can only use the flat, silver, spade finial. See AR 840-10, MCO 5060.20, and AFI 90-1201.
– The Navy and Coast Guard must use the battle-ax finial and on certain occasions must use a flat truck, ball, halberd, or eagel. See NTP 13(B)
Does the indoor have the flag sleeve and outdoors has gromets?
– All flags that are carried indoors/outdoors or displayed indoors have a staff sleeve (pole hem). Flags displayed outdoors, not carried outdoors, have the grommets. Some flags that are displayed outdoors and carried by a color guard (they can be switched like the infantry battalion flag) have a reinforced staff sleeve but do not have fringe attached.
For a Navy color guard.
1. If we are outdoors all flags except the ENS has fringe? These have the gromets
The Navy requires that flags that are displayed outdoors (on a mast, jackstaff, etc.) have grommets or a sleeve and never have fringe. See NTP 13(B). The word “Outdoors” is accompanied by the word “Displayed”. So “Displayed outdoors” means ONLY flags that are flown on a mast or staff. A color guard cannot “display” flags, it can only CARRY flags.
2. If we are indoors all of the flags have fringe? These have a pole sleeve
– A color guard indoors or outdoors (the physical location of the team does not matter) can carry flag with or without fringe. This actually does not matter. What matters is that flags that will be displayed outside (remember, that does not mean “carried”) are to never have fringe. That is the only thing forbidden for Navy flags.
3. All would be flown on a 9.5 ft pole and all flags would be 4’4″x5’6″?
– This is the only requirement for a Navy color guard. See MCO 5060.20.
4. If we have a tassel on the ENS do we have to have tassels on the rest of the branch flags?
– MCO 5060.20 requires the red, white, and blue twisted cord and tassels to be attached to the national color (it’s actually not an ensign) for the sea services. The Navy does not have a cord and tassels that go on the staff for the USN color. So, just the cord and tassels on the national.
That was some work and I really enjoy diving deeply like this! I hope that was helpful. If you need more information, please ask.
I noticed the Vice President speaking in Delaware and the flags behind her had a color of cord I had not seen before. Was wondering about the choice and what it means. The color looks to be purple and white striped.
Author
The President and VP colors are adorned with a red, white, and blue cord and tassels. It’s purely traditional with no meaning behind it.
The tradition stems from centuries ago when the unit color bearer finished in battle for the day, would furl the flag and wrap the cord around it to keep it together. In the morning before battle, he would unfurl the flag and tie the cord to the top of the staff just below the finial for use later on.
I hope that answers your question.
I am looking to create a joint flag display for an official USMC post. I am settled on the flags, staffs, bases, and finials, but I cannot solve the puzzle of the cords and tassels. I must be able to display every service individually and jointly in a correct manner. I have red, white, and blue, and scarlet and red cords. What should I have for the other services, and how should I display them jointly, concerning the cords?
P.S. My Protocol officer says that it is not a big deal and to use gold tassels and cords for all, but I feel uncomfortable with this.
My guess:
USA/USN/USAF/USSF/USCG: remove the cords for individual and joint ceremonies.
Author
Hello sir,
Joint service order is US, USA, USMC, USN, USAF, USSF, and USCG. I have three articles on the order, if you need more information.
Your protocol officer is part of the problem. Gold-colored cords and tassels are not authorized on any US military colors, ever.
FYI, the light ash or oak wood guidon staffs with silver-colored hardware and spade finials are the only authorized staffs and finials for all jointly displayed military colors. Flag spreaders are not authorized.
I wish you the best.
What is the tassel on the flag on Jen Psaki’s press conferences (March 2021)? What does that mean?
Author
Ms. Reimer,
That is the red, white, and blue cord and tassels. Please see this article to learn more: https://thedrillmaster.org/2021/01/20/flag-fringe-theory/.
DM