In support of Patriotic Camporee 2015, create a Troop Flag inspired by one or more of the Colonial Flags presented below OR inspired by additional colonial flags that can be found on the Internet. Your Troop flag should be a minimum of 3ft x 5ft in size or as large as you would like to make your flag. Be sure to bring your flag to the Saturday morning Grand Procession. Be prepared to explain the significance of your flag if asked to do so! Troops that have created a Troop Flag will be at the front of the Grand Procession March! Flags have been a part of history for thousands of years. During the time period of FCF (mid 1700's to 1840), Flags played an important role in the formation of our nation. At rendezvous and traces across the nation, many members fly historic flags, but few know the origins of those flags. Many of these flags were flown at the National Rendezvous, and many had questions as to what those flags represented. While they add much color to any event, it means more to know what the flag was designed for and how it was used. Many of the flags pictured below were used during the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. While this is not a complete list, it is a listing of the most well known of the period. Below you will find the image of the flag, what it is called, and a breif history as to how that flag was developed or used. The Grand Union This was first raised at sea on December 3, 1775 by John Paul Jones; and on land on January 1, 1776, on Prospect Hill (then called Mount Pisgah) in Somerville, Massachusetts, when the Continental Army was mustered into formal existence. It received its' name from a reference as the "Grand Union Flag" in one of George Washington's letters. Curiously, this flag was never officially sanctioned by the Continental Congress. Flying aboard a patriot ship, it received the first foreign salute to an American flag from Governor De Graaff of St. Eustatius Island on November 16, 1776. Patriotic Camporee 2015 Troop Flag Challenge Instructions / Ideas Page 1 of 6
The Betsy Ross This flag was adopted June 14, 1777 (Flag Day). The Continental Congress on this day resolved, "That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation". The circular design was by George Washington, Francis Hopkins and Betsy Ross. The Congress however did not specify an arrangement for the stars in the canton, as a result there are many variations in the flags that followed until 1912. Bunker Hill Flag On the night of June 16-17, 1775, the Americans fortified Breed's and Bunker Hills overlooking Boston Harbor. Although they had not officially declared their independence, a fight was underway. When the British advanced up the slope the next day they saw an early New England flag, possibly a red or blue banner. Many early Colonial flags had been made by altering the English flag and most still contained a reference to the mother country. This was an example that the Colonists still saw themselves as British subjects but were declaring their right to be free from violation of their liberties. Patriotic Camporee 2015 Troop Flag Challenge Instructions / Ideas Page 2 of 6
Washington's Crusiers Naval Flag This flag was used by George Washington on his own personal navy of six schooners which he outfitted at his own expense in the fall of 1775. Ever the diplomat, Washington choose the New England Pine Tree motif as a symbol of unity and solidarity between the northern and southern colonies. It was later modified and adopted by the Massachusetts Navy. The Sons of Liberty would rally under a large tree, in Boston Massachusetts, which came to be known as "The Liberty Tree". This tree became a symbol of American independence. Knowing they were up against a great military power they believed they were sustained by still a greater power, thus their "APPEAL TO HEAVEN". George Washington's Commander in Cheif Flag This flag was flown by General Washington during his winter encampment at Valley Forge. General Washington had a personal protection guard called the "Life Guard". It consisted of a few hand picked men from each colony and this special guard carried these colors. It has been suggested that these colors may have been the origin of the field of stars in our stars and stripes flag. Patriotic Camporee 2015 Troop Flag Challenge Instructions / Ideas Page 3 of 6
Green Mountain Boys Flag On August 16, 1777 the "Green Mountain Boys" fought under General Stark at the Battle of Bennington. It's green field represented their name and the thirteen white stars a tribute to the thirteen colonies. A notable victory of the Green Mountain Boys under Ethan Allen, occurred on the morning of May 10, 1775, when they silently invaded the British held Fort Ticonderoga and demanded its surrender "In the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress". The captured cannon and mortars were transported across the snow covered mountains of New England and their installation on the heights over Boston Harbor enabled Washington to force the British to leave that important seaport. The Serapis Flag On September 23, 1779, after his famous quote: "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight", Captain John Paul Jones boarded the British frigate Serapis after the most famous Revolutionary naval battle, and raised this flag known as the "Serapis flag". From the Serapis, Capt. Jones and the American crew watched their ship, the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard sink into the North Sea. Patriotic Camporee 2015 Troop Flag Challenge Instructions / Ideas Page 4 of 6
Fort Moultrie Flag This flag was carried by Colonel William Moultrie's South Carolina Militia on Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor on June 28, 1776. The British were defeated that day which saved the south from British occupation for another two years. Some versions of this flag have the word "LIBERTY" in the crescent moon. The South Carolina state flag still contains the crescent moon from this Revolutionary flag. The Gadsen The Culpeper Minute Men Flag This flag was first used by Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first Commander in Chief of the New Continental Fleet, when his ships put to sea for the first time in February, 1776. Flags with the symbol of the rattlesnake were very popular in Rhode Island at this time. Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina copied this flag and presented it to the Continental Congress. This flag represented a group of about one hundred minutemen from Culpeper, Virginia. The group formed part of Colonel Patrick Henry's First Virginia Regiment of 1775. In October-November 1775 three hundred such minutemen, led by Colonel Stevens, assembled at Culpeper Court House and marched for Williamsburg. Their unusual dress alarmed the people as they marched through the country. The word "LIBERTY OR DEATH" were in large white letters on the breast of their hunting shirts. They had bucks' tails in their hats and in their belts, tomahawks and scalping knives. Patriotic Camporee 2015 Troop Flag Challenge Instructions / Ideas Page 5 of 6
The Star Spangled Banner The "Star-Spangled Banner" was flying above FT. McHenry at Baltimore when the British attacked on September 13, 1814. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer from Washington had gone aboard a British ship seeking the release of a friend held prisoner. He was detained throughout the night. The sight of the American flag still flying over the fortress the next morning inspired Key to write what, in 1931, became our National Anthem. The original FT. McHenry flag is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. This design, born with the second flag act on January 13, 1794, is our only official flag ever to have more than thirteen stripes. Patriotic Camporee 2015 Troop Flag Challenge Instructions / Ideas Page 6 of 6