Flag of the United States Marine Corps

A U.S. Marine color guard dips the U.S. Marine Corps flag for a playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in April 2005.

The flag of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1914 to 1939.

Very little information is available regarding the flags carried by early American marines, although indications are that the Grand Union Flag was carried ashore by the battalion led by Captain Samuel Nicholas on New Providence Island, 3 March 1776. It is quite possible that the Gadsden flag was also carried on this expedition.

The standard carried by the Marines during the 1830s and 1840s consisted of a white field with gold fringe, and bore an elaborate design of an anchor and eagle in the center. Prior to the Mexican–American War, this flag bore the legend "To the Shores of Tripoli" across the top. Shortly after the war, the legend was revised to read: "From Tripoli to the Halls of the Montezumas."[4][5]

During the Mexican and Civil Wars, Marines in the field apparently carried a flag similar to the national flag, consisting of red and white stripes and a union. The union, however, contained an eagle perched on a shield of the United States and a half-wreath beneath the shield, with 29 stars encircling the entire design. Beginning in 1876, Marines carried the national colors (the Stars and Stripes) with "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered in yellow on the middle red stripe.

At the time of the Vera Cruz landing in 1914, a more distinctive standard was carried by Marines. The design consisted of a blue field with a laurel wreath encircling the Marine Corps emblem in the center. A scarlet ribbon above the emblem carried the words "U.S. Marine Corps," while another scarlet ribbon below the emblem carried the motto "Semper Fidelis."

Orders were issued on 2 April 1921 which directed all national colors be manufactured without the yellow fringe and without the words "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered on the red stripe. This was followed by an order dated 14 March 1922, retiring from use all national colors still in use with yellow fringe or wording on the flag. Following World War I, the Army practice of attaching silver bands carrying inscriptions enumerating specific decorations and battles was adopted. This practice was discontinued on 23 January 1961.

Marine Corps Order No. 4 of 18 April 1925 designated gold and scarlet as the official colors of the U.S. Marine Corps. These colors, however, were not reflected in the official Marine Corps standard until 18 January 1939, when a new design incorporating the new colors was approved. The design was essentially that of today's Marine Corps standard.

For a brief time following World War I, the inscribing of battle honors directly on the colors of a unit was in practice, but realization that a multiplicity of honors and the limited space on the colors made the system impractical, and the procedure was discontinued. On 29 July 1936, a Marine Corps Board recommended that the Army system of attaching streamers to the staff of the organizational colors be adopted. Such a system was finally authorized by Marine Corps Order No. 157, dated 3 November 1939, and is currently in practice. Devices are embroidered onto the streamer to denote special recognition or repeat awards. Unlike the Army and Air Force flags, only a single streamer is utilized for a single campaign, with the exception of those streamers that require more than eight devices, the maximum any one streamer may hold. Devices are only authorized for campaigns participated in the 20th and 21st centuries.[6]

Streamers

The following streamers are authorized, in order of precedence:[9]

Streamers

Order	Name	Image	Device(s)
1	Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) x 2
2	Presidential Unit Citation (Army)
3	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
4	Navy Unit Commendation x 4
5	Valorous Unit Award
6	Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy)
7	Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
8	Revolutionary War
9	Quasi-War with France
10	the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War
11	War of 1812
12	African Slave Trade
13	Operations Against West Indian Pirates
14	Indian Wars
15	Mexican War
16	Civil War
17	Marine Corps Expeditionary x 3		Wake Island Device
18	Spanish Campaign
19	Philippine Campaign
20	China Relief Expedition
21	Cuban Pacification
22	Nicaraguan Campaign
23	Mexican Service
24	Haitian Campaign
25	Dominican Campaign
26	World War I Victory x 2
27	Army of Occupation of Germany
28	Second Nicaraguan Campaign
29	Yangtze Service
30	China Service
31	American Defense Service
32	American Campaign
33	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
34	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign x 2
35	World War II Victory
36	Navy Occupation Service
37	National Defense Service
38	Korean Service
39	Armed Forces Expeditionary
40	Vietnam Service
41	Southwest Asia Service
42	Kosovo Campaign
43	Afghanistan Campaign
44	Iraq Campaign
45	Inherent Resolve Campaign[10][11][12][13]
46	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
47	Global War on Terrorism Service
48	Philippine Defense
49	Philippine Liberation
50	Philippine Independence
51	Croix de Guerre (France, WWI)
52	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
53	Korean Presidential Unit Citation
54	Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation of the Gallantry Cross
55	Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer

• Note that a "x #" designation denotes the number of streamers used to carry devices (maximum of 8), not the number of awards.

The only horse-mounted color guard in the Corps at the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade

Each unit in the Corps of battalion-size or larger also hold an organizational color (which makes up the unit's colors along with the national flag). It is usually identical to the Marine Corps battle color, though the scroll will have the unit's name instead of "United States Marine Corps". It will also bear the streamers authorized to the unit, or scarlet and gold tassels if none are authorized.

Each Corps unit has a designated color guard, led by a color sergeant. He is entrusted with the care of the unit colors, which are a symbol of the United States, the Marine Corps, and the commander him/herself. The organizational colors are often passed as part of change of command ceremonies to symbolize the transfer of office. When not in use as part of a parade or ceremony, the colors are traditionally kept in the commander's office.

A guidon for Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines

A Marine guidon is always rectangular, 22 by 28 inches (56 by 71 cm), with a scarlet field and gold lettering, and an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor centered.

Fleet Marine Forces units have "FMF" emblazoned above an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (EGA), reserve units display "USMCR", and all others have "USMC". The regimental level numeral will be displayed in the lower left corner, unless a higher or lower command numeral provides better identification (for example, a battalion's headquarters company would display that battalion's numeral instead of the regiment). The company-level designation letter, abbreviated title, or number will be in the lower right corner.

No additional attachments are authorized, including streamers, bands, or the like. Some units incorporate additional banners or mascots into unofficial guidons.

Guidons are used in the same manner as colors for a company- or platoon-sized unit. Much like the colors, the guidon represents the unit commander. It is entrusted to the unit guide for parades and ceremonies, and displayed in or near the commander's office when he or she is present.

Guidons are also used in recruit training to identify individual platoons. First and second phase platoons have a gold background with their four-digit platoon number in scarlet, while third phase platoons have a scarlet background with gold lettering and trim. The guidon is used as an aid to instilling unit identity and pride, representing the platoon. Some drill instructors will test that pride by attempting to dishonor the guidon and expecting the recruits to intervene. Also, the recruit assigned to carry it, the guide, is treated as the most senior recruit of the platoon, and uses the guidon to marks the line of advance in close order drill.

General-grade officers and the Commandant of the Marine Corps are authorized a personal flag, which displays their rank insignia. A red background with white stars are used, while the Commandant also has a grey and gold Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. These flags are often used to mark a command headquarters in garrison, as well as a symbol for the general himself. Much like a guidon, they are displayed when the general is present, and stowed when not; visiting officers and officials often have their personal flags displayed as a courtesy.

Personal flags of the Commandant, a general, lieutenant general, major general, and brigadier general

Spearhead

All U.S. Marine flags share a similar wooden staff and silver spearhead and ferrule. The base of the spearhead is used to support streamers or tassels if authorized. Older organizational colors may also have silver bands, awarded for participation in a battle or campaign, though the practice has been discontinued for all but the Corp's main battle colors.

A color mounted on a vehicle of some type is referred to as a standard. When the national flag is flown from a ship, it is referred to as the national ensign.

• Color guard
• Flags of the United States Armed Forces
• Guidon (United States)

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

• Text adapted from History of the Marine Corps Flag and Battle Colors of the Marine Corps

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of the United States Marine Corps.

• Official website
• Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
• United States Marine Corps Color Guard and Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps