US Army Flag
Prior to 1956, the Army was the only military branch that was without a flag to represent the entire service. On June 14th of that year, the flag of the US Army was unveiled to the public. The flag features a white background, with “United States Army” written on a red scroll and the original War Office seal above it in blue, with the year of the Army’s creation, “1775,” at the bottom in blue.
The War Office seal features a wide variety of symbols and imagery that all represent the mission and drive of the US Army, with “This We’ll Defend,” the motto of the US Army centered at the top of the seal guarded by a rattlesnake, which was a popular symbol during America’s colonial times. Featured in the center of the seal and a key element of the emblem is a Roman cuirass which symbolizes the US Army’s strength and their mission to protect America. The cannon and mortar flank the cuirass and represent the force of the US Army, while the Phrygian cap supported by an unsheathed sword stands for liberty, as well as the Army’s constant preparedness to protect and defend the United States of America.