US Marine Corps Flag

The US Marine Corps flag was created on January 18th, 1939. The flag is commonly known as a "standard" or "battle color". It comes with a scarlet writing over a white field and has the Corps emblem in gold and grey. There are two versions of the flag, one bordered with a gold fringe and used for parade and indoor sessions , while the other, plain, displayed outside. The flag measures fifty-five inches by sixty-two inches. The staff comes with multi-colored battle streamers at the very top and sterling silver bands, with engraved names of each conflict of the Marine Corps.

The flag of the Corps is always carried by the Color Sergeant. This position was first established in 1965; the first Color Sergeant was Gunnery Sgt. Shelton L. Eakin. All Sergeants are eligible to take the position for two years, the only two requirements for applicants are the proper height (6 feet, 4 inches tall), and the White House security clearance.

There are no exact records about the flags used by first American Marine Corps. It is believed, though, that the Grand Union Flag was first carried ashore by Captain Samuel Nicholas and his battalion on New Providence Island in 1776. The Gadsden Flag was probably carried at this same mission.