Before we get into the theories, let’s all just take a deep breath and not get reactionary. Completely dismissing or wrapping yourself around the axle into any of these theories without due consideration of the facts is not going to do anyone any good. As with all myths there are several truths weaved into this conspiracies. The fact is we have all been lied to, and it does no good to attack the messengers trying to educate people to their plight.
I know. Conspiracy theories! Wacko! Tin-foil hat-wearing fool! Yada-yada-yada. If you are not open minded or already know everything, please move along.
I originally wrote this in January of 2021. This update, January 2024, is a complete rewrite, rearrangement, update, and includes additional information from my colleague, DeVaughn Simper, vexillologist.
The theory is that the gold fringe defaces the flag of the United States of America suspends the Constitution. I’m not so quick to make that conclusion, but I do understand how this thinking came about: judgments based on very narrow research.
If you do wider research, you can find a theory that states that gold fringe on the US flag means that maritime law is in effect (especially in a court of law) and that set of laws is very different from the law of the land. There is also the connection between the United States, a corporation (HQ in Washington DC) , and the United States of America, the country.
Is it merely an affectation as the US Army states? If you have not read The History of Fringe, please do so now, it’s important.
Historically, fringe was used to keep a flag clean. It generates static electricity which attracts the dirt from the flag material. That’s it.
Now what you need to know is the difference between a flag and a color, this is also important. A color, a flag with specific characteristics, represents the flag, especially for the military.
To make things more interesting, in the ceremonial drill world, for state (federal government) arrival/departure ceremonies, none of the national flags have fringe. This is because many other countries simply forbid fringe while others have elaborate fringe color and length requirements.
The photo above shows an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon for a Japanese dignitary.
Clarified the “Law of the Flag” in Maritime Law (at sea). Contracts initiated/signed on a ship are subject to the laws of the country whose flag is flying on the ship. This was intended to prevent privateers from unfairly changing venue when contracts came into dispute. No where in the opinion does it state that this translates to land, nor does it mention fringe.
Attorney General John G. Sargent stated in 1925 (many years before the current Title 4 verbiage). “The fringe does not appear to be regarded as an integral part of the flag, and its presence cannot be said to constitute an unauthorized addition to the design prescribed by statute. An external fringe is to be distinguished from letters, words, or emblematic designs printed or superimposed upon the body of the flag itself. Under the law, such additions might be open to objection as unauthorized; but the same is not necessarily true of the fringe.”
The Flag Code was written in 1942 to provide guidelines to the nation regarding the display of the flag, as the people of the time rallied around the flag in the midst of World War. Until this time there were no clear legal definitions of the flag. The Departments of the Army and Navy each had regulations regarding the standardization of the national colors to maintain uniformity. The American Legion spearheaded the project to adopt a flag code.
The Flag Code is part of public law (all caps: 4 U.S. Code CHAPTER 1—THE FLAG) sets the standards for civilian display of the flag. For the text of the code, I trust house.gov and Cornell Law websites and no one else, really. There is too much assumption everywhere else. Let me be clear: the average guy or gal can read a paragraph of the Flag Code and still be perplexed at the meaning of the words just read. But, let’s do the best we can here.
§8. Respect for flag
Flag Code
(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
This prohibition above was in the same vein as the following:
(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
Flag Code
The reasoning behind prohibition (h) was that in those days organizations would walk in parades holding the American flag (or their organization’s flag) horizontally to collect donations. People would throw money into the flag.
The intent for prohibition (g) was to have people stop writing, drawing, and attaching symbols to the flag. This was a very common practice, especially for military units. It was not about fringe.
Army Regulation 840-10 (replaced AR 640-10 in the 1970s), Flags, Guidons, Streamers, Tabards, and Automobile and Aircraft Plates, provides guidance for the US Army regarding every kind of flag the service uses. It replaced Army Regulation 640-10, 1979.
1 – 6. Materials
AR 840-10 (emphasis mine)
Flags designed primarily for indoor and parade display [DM- these flags are called Indoor/Outdoor flags] will normally be made of banner rayon or heavyweight nylon with rayon fringe. Those designed primarily for outdoor display will be made of nylon-wool or heavyweight nylon without fringe [DM- these flags are called Outside flags].
(a) 12-inch hoist by 18-inch fly, of approved material, trimmed on three sides with fringe 1 1/2 inches wide. This flag is to be displayed with the individual automobile flag of the President and Vice President of the United States.
AR 840-10 (emphasis mine)
b. National flags listed below are for indoor display and for use in ceremonies and parades. For these purposes, the flag of the United States will be of rayon banner cloth or heavyweight nylon, trimmed on three sides with golden yellow fringe, 2 1/2 inches wide. It will be the same size or larger than other flags displayed or carried at the same time.
AR 840-10 (emphasis and notes mine)
(1) 4-foot 4-inch hoist by 5-foot 6-inch fly. This size flag will be displayed with the U.S. Army flag, organizational flag of ACOMs, positional colors (table 3 – 1), the Corps of Cadets’ color, the 1st Battalion, 3d Infantry color, the 4-foot 4-inch by 5-foot 6-inch chapel flag and the individual flag of a general of the Army.
(2) 3-foot hoist by 4-foot fly. This size flag will be displayed with the Army Field flag, distinguishing flags, organizational colors, and institutional flags of the same size. It will also be displayed within the offices listed in c below when no other positional or organizational flags are authorized.
p. The use of gold fringe on the U.S. Flag is expressly forbidden for Marine Corps organizations.
MCO 5060.20 (emphasis mine)
The above restriction applies to the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA, Merchant Mariners, and Public Health. It was created quite possibly out of a disagreement between the Department of the Army and Department of the Navy. Many such differences between the services originate because one Navy Admiral wanted this and an Army General wanted that.
The MCM provides definition for the unauthorized striking of colors (unauthorized surrender). Nowhere does it mention fringe or its implications.
Records of the Department of the Army indicate that fringe was used on the National color as early as 1835 and its official use by the Army dates from 1895. There is no record of an act of Congress or Executive Order which either prescribes or prohibits the addition of fringe, nor is there any indication that any symbolism was ever associated with it. The use of fringe is optional with the person or organization displaying the flag.
In contrast, the Navy (Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and, by extension, NOAA and PHS) does not use fringe on their national colors. This is essentially due to the Army and Navy not getting along since the middle 1800s. Documentation does not exist to support the fringe equaling declaration of martial law, that the fringe is a war time only adornment, or any other theory.
The cord and tassels were used to tie the color after it was furled (wrapped around the staff) and stored. When the color was unfurled for display or to be carried, the place to store the cord was to tie it around the upper ferrule at the top of the staff just below the finial.
For the military, the gold cord and tassels is not authorized in any display nor for a color guard. However, the red, white, and blue twisted cord and tassels is authorized specifically for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard (see MCO 10520.3, AR 840-10 also mentions the RW&B cord).
The cord and tassels is not necessary for a display, but keeping it as a traditional/historical reference is appropriate. The President and VP displays should have the red, white, and blue cord and tassels. Most likely the gold-colored cord is there because it it is much more easily obtained and it matches the fringe.
Executive Order 10834, signed by President Eisenhower on July 4, 1959, adds the star for the Hawai’ian Islands, gives the dimensions the flag in great detail. Title 4 prescribes the dimensions of the flag in terms of a ratio 1:1.9. This measurement maintains the proportions of the flag regardless of the size.
There are specific sizes stipulated in the Flag Code but the EO mentioned above give the authority for the DoD to make adjustments.
Hoist (width) of flag 1.0
Fly (length) of flag 1.9
Hoist (width) of Union 0.5385 ( 7/13)
Fly (length) of Union 0.76
Diameter of star 0.0616
Width of stripe 0.0769 ( 1/13)
However, it also states that minor changes can be made to the national flag or union jack. The Jack being the maritime flag displayed at the bow on the jack staff of a vessel only when moored or anchored. See A flag is a Flag is a Flag.
(a) The Secretary of Defense in respect of procurement for the Department of Defense (including military colors) and the Administrator of General Services in respect of procurement for executive agencies other than the Department of Defense may, for cause which the Secretary or the Administrator, as the case may be, deems sufficient, make necessary minor adjustments in one or more of the dimensions or proportionate dimensions prescribed by this order, or authorize proportions or sizes other than those prescribed by section 3 or section 21 of this order.
EO 10834, Sec. 24 (emphasis mine)
Why do the Army, Air Force, and Space Force use the 3’x4′ color and not the much more common 3’x5′ color?
Back in the 1800s, Soldiers would bring the flagstaff to horizontal for casing and uncasing the colors. When the color was fully unfurled and the staff completely horizontal, the standard 3’x5′ colors would easily touch the ground since many Soldiers back then were relatively short. The Army fixed the issue by ordering 12″ to be cut from the fly end of the color. Problem solved.
For information on star size, read here.
This is just silly. Holy cow. There is no documentation that mentions that changing the orientation of the flag to hang with the stripes down results in suspension of your constitutional rights. The House of Representatives and the Senate, both have a flag hung vertically behind the Speaker and President Pro Tempore seats and have done so for over a century. In that time the Constitution has never been suspended. The flag, however, has been suspended both vertically and horizontally everywhere.
Also called an ornament, the finial is the device at the top of a flagpole (outside) or a flagstaff (indoor display or carried by a color guard). There are many finials to choose from. Here is the guidance.
Below, where NTP 13B, Flags, Pennants, Honors, Ceremonies, and Customs, is referenced, the information applies only to the US Navy and Coast Guard for the military. Included in the services required to follow this finial guidance are NOAA and the Public Health Service.
The image below and of CPO (R) Hacala, show the older style of interchangeable maritime finials. Now, a less expensive and less complicated system is employed (however, it’s not as impressive, in my view). All of the Navy finials are interchangeable with three small screws that hold the finial on the truck, the flat piece at the finial’s top.
Note- This is different from a Landing Eagle and a Flying Eagle. Many look like a plucked chicken anyway. I don’t know if the direction the eagle is looking toward matters. At right is an antique.
It is for civilian officials and flag officers whose official gun salute is 19 or more guns. This includes such individuals as the President and Vice President, Secretaries of State, Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, State Governors, and Service Chiefs. Tables of gun salutes of military officers and civil officials are contained in Chapter 10, U.S. Navy Regulations.
These state the spread eagle is only for presidential staffs. You will see the Presidential Color Guard most often at the inauguration parade. This team carries the National, Presidential, and Vice-Presidential Colors on 10′ staffs. The President and Vice-president’s colors are positional colors and receive fringe. Since the Army is the senior service, a Soldier carried the National Color and it has fringe.
Halberd
Also from NTP 13B and for the Navy and Coast Guard only. It is “for flag officers whose official gun salute is less than 19 guns, and for civil officials whose gun salute is 11 or more but less than 19 guns. Included in this category are such individuals as the Under and Assistant Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; Naval or Military Governors; and flag officers of the Armed Forces other than those of 5-star rank or Service Chiefs.”
See the photo below of MCPO (Ret) Mark Hacala, DrillMaster003, the Ceremonial Specialist for the US Navy Ceremonial Guard at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. The halberd is in his left hand (picture’s right).
This is for Army (AR 840-10) outdoor wall mounted flags for advertising or recruiting and NTP 13B states, “For officers of the grade or equivalent grade of Captain in the Navy, and for such diplomatic officials as Career Ministers, Consuls, or First Secretary of an Embassy or Legation.” It’s the standard finial for outdoor flagpoles. Read more about the ball here.
The USAF actually used the ball for color guards but it has not been authorized for use in decades- if you are still using it, stop.
(NTP 13B) For officers of the grade or equivalent grade of Commander in the Navy. This is also the required finial for the Texas flag.
Certain states have specific finials, Fleur-de-Lis (optional for LA) and Botany Cross (required for MD), and even flag fold techniques.
(NTP 13B) For officers below the grade or equivalent grade of Commander in the Navy, and for civil officials for whom honors are prescribed on the occasions of an official visit, but are not the equivalent of those officials listed above. The truck is the flat part of the upper ferrule of a flagstaff. That’s where the finial screws into.
In the photo below, DrillMaster003 is holding a Halberd Finial in his left hand. Below his index and middle fingers is the flat piece where the finial screws into the upper ferrule. That flat piece of the upper ferrule is called the truck. Remove the finial and you have the Flat Truck.
The photo below of MCPO (Ret) Mark Hacala (DrillMaster003) while he was the Ceremonial Specialist at the US Navy Ceremonial Guard in Washington DC. He is holding the halberd and battle-ax finials. Imagine, if you will, the ball alone without the rest of the ornament.
This is used by the Navy and Coast Guard as their standard finial for color guard when working within that service or jointly together. When working with another service the flat, silver Army Spearhead must be used.
In the photo above of MCPO (Ret) Mark Hacala, he is holding the battle-ax in his right hand.
All of the Navy finials mentioned are local purchase only. If they are not deemed necessary for the expenditure of funds, the Army Spearhead is always used.
AR 840-10, MCO 5060.20, and AFI 34-1201, all state that the flat, silver spade is the only finial authorized for color guard flagstaffs and all service guidon staffs.
Spike, spire, cone, flat- there are many variations to these finials and like the Army spade, they are all derived from ancient pole arms: spears. These are the most common finials for civilian and civil display.
Many other countries have exactly the same concept. They took the spear ends from their ancient pole arms and made them finials. On the left is a finial from Panama.
Let’s add another fact to this to help with the possible confusion.
On February 21, 1871, with no constitutional authority to do so, Congress created a separate form of government for the District of Columbia, a ten mile square parcel of land (see, Acts of the Forty-first Congress,” Section 34, Session III, chapters 61 and 62). From https://www.federaljack.com/slavery-by-consent-the-united-states-corporation/. This created the United States, Inc. As a corporation there are all kinds of different rules for a business verses a country.
Notice that when you read the Flag Code, certain statements only pertain to those living in the District of Columbia not to anyone else. A “US Citizen” is one who is based in the District of Columbia and subject to those laws. It’s a deep rabbit hole, but well worth it to investigate.
I still have questions. However, I am much more inclined to follow the guidance of the Flag Code and the Marine Corps Order and not have fringe attached to the American flag/National Color. Flag size and finial type do not have an impact on anything as far as I can tell. Flag size needs to be appropriate to staff length, however.
If you have any documented information to add in a positive manner to dispute the information above, I welcome it. Please do not send me links to the ridiculous postmaster-capture-the-flag stuff. I’ve read through it all and watched each video.
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It was once explained to me by an old English sailor that fringed flags were an unnoficial way of displaying captured flags. Not necessarily by any formal law or code, but by tradition dating back to the days of pirates and conquest. A pirate would take the flag of a conquered ship, sew a fringe on it, then fly it low and aft of their ships main flag as a means of bragging of their conquest and taunting enemies. The most seasoned & formidable ships could have a mizzen or backstay dressed clear full of various fringed flags, with the primary ship’s flag flying high & forward, either above the bow or on the main depending on sailplan.
Have you ever heard of this before? Interesting theory, but no idea if there is any truth or standing to this. Even if so, not sure that would mean anything regarding the current usage of fringed American flags, as there are specific codes calling for use of a fringe in those cases. It would though, seem quite the embarrassing practice to do to your own flag if true.
Yes, I read this some time ago, and have been looking for corroboration since. What I read was it was British maritime law (not just pirates) dating back to somthing like the 1400's. I would like to find more on this.
Update for you as to how the myth came about.
It's a misinterpretation. Flags are usually really tatterd after a major battle and captured flags are never repaired so it appears to be fringed. They are then surrendered to the sovereign or fleet comodore for a bounty.
I've not heard this before and, according to vexillologist DeVaughn Simper, it's a myth.
Fringe was used to keep dirt away from the silk because it would generate static electricity.
DM
In the process of surfing the web for more information about this topic, I ran into the website for a fabric company that claims to be the only company authorized to make the fringe specifically for the Presidential flag, which they say is made from alternating gold and silver threads, as opposed to the bright gold fringe seen on other U.S. flags. Name of the company is Triaxial Structures, Inc. located in PA, website is triaxial.us
From their website:
“Presidential Flag Fringe
TSI is currently the sole weaver of the specialty flag fringe used exclusively on the U.S. Presidential Flag. This unique construction is significantly different from the bright yellow fringe appearing on the “Stars and Stripes”.
Woven with metalic gold and silver yarn, hand manipulated during weaving with each individual fringe tassel hand knotted after weaving, it reproduces the original fringe as designed in 1898. All materials and fringe are produced in the US.”
(They show a close-up photo of the Presidential fringe vs a non-Presidential fringe but I can’t get the photo to copy over)
This is true. My colleague, DeVaughn Simper, vexillologist for http://www.colonialflag.com, told me he has been to the company and seen what they do.
Thank you very much for this information, I appreciate it.
DM
I just watched a video today with Biden and the flag behind him had a red and white cord with several rungs almost like a noose. There was no blue color in the cord that I could see and it didn't look like the red white and blue cord used by pres and vp. What's up with that?
Used Flags today with the red and white cord, while Biden addressing the country due to the California Bank Closure Mar 13. First time I've noticed them, but don't look at Mainstream Media all that much.
Thank you for the question.
It seems that some White House team members in charge of setting up for a President are less than accurate when following flag protocol. I might even go so far as to say some could not care less. The cord and tassels should be a twisted red, white, and blue.
I couldn't tell you any more than that.
Edit: Comments do not automatically post. I have full control at the back end of the website to allow posts through for others to see.
I read the passages about fringe on the U.S. flag, and they seem to go back and forth as to whether it is or is not allowed. There's one section where he first says this: "For the military, the gold cord and tassels is not authorized in any display nor for a color guard." And the very next sentence is this: "However, the red, white, and blue twisted cord and tassels is authorized specifically for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard (see MCO 10520.3, AR 840-10 also mentions the RW&B cord)."
Those two sentences contradict one another. The first sentences decrees NO to the fringe; the second sentence decrees YES to the fringe for certain brances.
Later, it says, "The red, white, and blue cord and tassels is required on all national colors for the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard (MCO 5060.20)." And later, it says this: "MCO 5060.20, Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies... p. The use of gold fringe on the U.S. Flag is expressly forbidden for Marine Corps organizations."
Here, in one place it says fringe is REQUIRED, and later EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN.
I'm confused and would love clarification. Especially since we come out to the Golden Bear Drill Meet each year, and in years past we've gotten dinged for not comporting with DM standards in your book.
Thank you.
Lt Col Richmond,
None of what I have written here is a contradiction. Unfortunately, each service has created its own requirements and we have to do extensive research to understand those different requirements.
You are USAF, and that requires your color guard to have gold fringe on all flags. The gold cord and tassels is forbidden. Army follows the same standard.
The Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard are forbidden from displaying and carrying the American flag with fringe. However, they must have the red, white, and blue cord and tassels attached to that staff.
DM
Do you have a website where I can find a flag staff with the Army Spade and ceremonial U.S. flag for a color guard team that does not have the gold fringe.
Hello,
That would be http://www.colonialflag.com - you cannot go wrong with this company with very knowledgeable staff.
DM
: Russell-Jay: Gould owns the rights to the Title IV 1 1.9 American Flag. He saved the Republic in 1999 by disqualifying the agreement we had to revert back to England’s rule by using Quantum Grammar and correct parse syntax sentence structure. 1999 was our third and final bankruptcy deadline to pay off England, and we failed. Anyone remember what happened during the Bush v Gore election? And how it was delayed for weeks? And which state volunteered for this corruption? Florida… who was the Governor of Florida back then? You guessed it, Jeb Bush. The plan all along was for us to secretly be absorbed back to the English Crown. But: Russell captured the flag and immediately registered it with the UN and therefore… making him the chief of the US Republic. He is also the Post Master General of the world using the same grammar technology.
What we have seen since that 1999 election fraud has all been a facade. Our country is not a Republic. Smart people call us a democracy… and I’m sure they’re fully aware that we used to be a Republic.
So if it’s not the Title IV 1 1.9 flag, there is no constitutional protection… no bill of rights. Judges know this. You have to agree to partake in this fraudulent system and form a contract. The flag with yellow fringe is a Maritime/Admiralty flag (law of the sea), no constitutional protections. We used to live in civil/common law (Land) which gave us the protections of the constitution. You know how you agree to contract with this fraudulent system? A judge asks you to verify your name. When you say “yes”, it’s over for you. You have made contract with the fraud.
My website is FromFictionToFact.com
Also, watch the film at LastFlagStanding.com
I hope this helps every person reading.
Hello! I have a question that doesnt pertain to this topic and I apologize for it being in the wrong place as I was having trouble finding a proper forumn for it.
In regards to my question: What is the best course of action to take, when there are multiple members complaining about the same person for their treatment towards others?
For context this is a high school armed drill team.
Any help would be appreciated
and once again Id like to apologize for this question being on the wrong topic post!
-
Your team leadership needs to sit down and talk. Clear communication is the key.
Whoever is bring inappropriate needs to be counseled. But, you need to start with, "How are things at home? How are you doing in school? Did you know that there are complaints about how you treat others? This needs to stop because it's hurting the morale of the team. That makes the team less effective and that's not good." Something like that.
There should be a chain of command: commander, deputy commander, and squad/element leaders.
If the leadership is unable to handle the situation, then you need to ask one or both of your instructors to attend the next meeting.
Let me know how it goes.
DM
Thank you for your research and insight; I am as confused as ever but it's absolutely no fault of yours.
Just an FYI, that "Federal Jack" website has been suspended (because of course it has) by the Commies at Wordpress since Patriotism has become such a dangerous thing to the unfathomable number of disgusting Swamp Donkeys and traitors to America in our midst. This site published the article in what appears (at a glance) to be its complete, original, unedited form:
https://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/act-1871-united-states-corporation-two-constitutions/210579
Thanks again and I do have a question re: your photo of 45 and President Obama:
What is the "epic troll"?
On a normal day I'd catch it but right now I'm running on:
• no sleep since 11/3/2020;
• a last meal around 0300 at least four 0300s ago;
• eyes filled with black sand, dust bunnies and woofies from under the bed;
• a brain that ceased function two impeachments and one USA, Inc. ago
I'd sure appreciate any hints you deign to provide - spelled out in plain English, please.
[And YES, I am in SuperB*tch mode but again: absolutely no fault of yours - I just can't contain it anymore. Do you know where I can get a US flag emoji that's flying upside down?
Asking for a friend.]
Hello Ma'am,
Thank you for your comment.
I did not know that the text of the photo was still there, I downloaded it from Instagram, did not double check it, and apologize. I'll remove it right away. In the meantime, the "troll" is that every head of state before President Trump had fringed flags displayed behind him all the time. Plus, there is no presidential seal on the podium. This was supposedly a signal to everyone as to what was coming: the doing away with the US, Inc and a return to the USA, the Republic.
As for the distress flag emoji, please tell your 80 million friends that I don't know where to get one. Until one is found, we must pray for our leaders at all times.
DM