Before the StripesDuring the earliest days of the United States, the situation regarding Flags was much different than it is today; there was no one single design, nor was there much conformity in flags even within a single design specification. Striped flags became popular even before the Revolutionary War broke out. The first U.S. flags retained the symbols of the mother country, in the hope of reconcilation. After 1777 and the adoption by Congress of the Stars and Stripes, three basic "sub-designs" used for different purposes evolved; the thirteen stripes used quite unofficially as a "Merchant Flag," the design authorized by Congress on June 14th, 1777 and often refered to as the "Marine Flag," used by our Navy; and the "Standard of the United States," utilized primarily at the begining by the army.
Please note that some of the pages listed below are still under construction; their illustrations are shown but the text is not yet finished. The text for the Continental Colors and the Eagle Standard is complete and given.
Before the Stripes
To the Vexillology Page
To the Maine Flags Pages
To the New England Vexillological Assn. Page
To the New England Journal of Vexillology Page
To the New England Flag Page
