Ensign of the United States

The ensign of the United States is a special flag used to show that a ship or boat belongs to the United States. It is often flown at the back of ships or boats, or at certain places like bases of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. International rules say that ships should show their country's flag when they are in waters of other countries.

Ships that are officially registered in the United States, government-owned ships, and military ships must fly this special flag to show they are from the U.S. Even some small boats owned by U.S. citizens can fly this flag to show they are American.

There is also a special flag called the U.S. Yacht Ensign that many pleasure boats use when they are in U.S. waters. This flag was required for licensed yachts from 1848 to 1980, and many boats still use it today. Some small boats that belong to members of the United States Power Squadrons may fly a different flag called the U.S. Power Squadrons flag when they are on lakes or rivers instead of the regular national flag. All U.S. ships should fly the national ensign when they are in international waters or outside the U.S.

Military ensigns

The naval ensign and its first salute

The Continental Union Flag, called the "Flag of America", was the main flag used by the United States Navy until June 14, 1777, when the 13 star flag became the official flag. It was first raised on a ship led by Commodore Esek Hopkins on the Delaware River by Lieutenant John Paul Jones on December 3, 1775.

The current design, known as the "Stars and Stripes", was adopted on June 14, 1777, by the Second Continental Congress. It has thirteen red and white stripes and a blue field with thirteen white stars.

Denmark and the Netherlands were the first countries to honor the Continental Union Flag with salutes from U.S. ships in late 1776. France was the first to honor the Stars and Stripes in 1778.

In the 19th century, naval ensigns were very large. By the early 20th century, they became smaller as ships could be identified more easily. Today, the largest ensign for daily use on ships is about 5 by 9.5 feet.

Coast Guard Ensign and the Customs Ensign

Main article: Flag of the United States Coast Guard § Coast Guard Ensign

The United States Coast Guard uses a special flag to show its authority over ships. The U.S. Customs Service uses a similar flag without a special symbol. These flags started with a design created in 1799 by Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott Jr. for the Revenue-Marine. Over time, these flags have changed but are still used today by the Coast Guard and Customs.

Civilian ensigns

Striped merchant ensign

There isn't much information about the early flags used by U.S. merchant ships, but some evidence shows that during the American Revolution, some ships flew flags with 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes. These designs were similar to flags used by the Sons of Liberty and might have also been used as early naval flags along with another flag called the Continental Union Flag.

Yacht ensign

In 1848, Congress approved a special flag for licensed U.S. yachts. This flag looked like the national flag but had a fouled anchor with thirteen stars in the corner. It was suggested by the New York Yacht Club. Only yachts that were officially licensed could use this flag at first, but over time, more and more U.S. yachts started using it. Even after laws changed in 1980, many U.S. yachts still use this flag today because it has been a tradition since the 1800s. Some states allow recreational boats to use this flag instead of the national flag when they are in U.S. waters.

Power Squadrons ensign

The United States Power Squadrons is a group that teaches people about safety and skills for boating. In 1914, they created their own flag, which was patented in 1916. While this flag isn't officially recognized as a national flag by the U.S. government, some small boats use it when they don't have a mast or are only boating close to home. The group suggests flying this flag from a specific part of the boat.

State maritime flags

In April 1776, the Massachusetts Navy chose a special flag with a white background and a green pine tree. It even had the words "An Appeal to Heaven" on it. Later, in 1971, the words were taken off, and it became known as the naval and maritime flag of Massachusetts.

Maine also has its own special flag for ships. It has a white background with a green pine tree and the words "MAINE" and "DIRIGO" around it. "Dirigo" is Latin for "I lead" and is the state motto of Maine.

Only Massachusetts and Maine have their own special flags for ships. These are not the same as national flags. They are special versions of their state flags meant for use on water. The laws that created these flags call them "flags," not "ensigns."