Martin Luther King, Jr. Flags

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 16, 2012, and it’s not too late to order a beautiful Martin Luther King, Jr. Decorative Flag from the United States Flag Store. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Flag is available in two sizes, 28” x 40” (vertical orientation) or 3 ft x 5 ft (horizontal orientation). Both flags are made from high quality nylon, feature vibrant colors and a beautiful design, and are suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. flags feature a beautiful portrait of Dr. King on the right side of the flag with an American flag waving in the background. The text “Martin Luther King, Jr.” appears in gold letters at the top of the flag, and the text, “Yesterday’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality,” appears in red letters at the bottom of the flag.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Born on January 15, 1929, Dr. King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. After becoming an ordained clergyman, completing graduate studies at Boston College, and serving as clergyman at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. King became active in the Civil Rights Movement. Using teaching from Christian tradition and the nonviolent protest philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King used the power of words, nonviolent protests, and grassroots organization to pave the way for equal rights in the United States.

Dr. King was an influential leader, along with Rosa Parks, in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization that proved essential to direction to the Civil Rights Movement. In 1963, Dr. King was one of the leaders behind the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous, “I Have a Dream speech.” Dr. King is among the youngest recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, which he received in 1964. Dr. King was shot in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1964 while delivering a speech to improve wages and conditions for sanitation workers.

State Flag of West Virginia

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The current version of the West Virginia was adopted on March 7, 1929. The flag is rectangular with a white background and dark blue border. The West Virginia coat of arms appears in the center of the flag. Rhododendrons, West Virginia’s state flower, decorate the coat of arms. The text “The State of West Virginia,” appears on a red ribbon above the coat of arms. The text “Montani Semper Liberi,” (“Mountaineers are Always Free”) appears on another red ribbon below the state seal.

The coat of arms bears symbolic meaning for the people of West Virginia. The two men depicted in the coat of arms symbolize West Virginia’s agriculture and industry. The man on the left side of the coat of arms is a farmer, holding an ax and plow and standing in front of a cornstalk. On the right side of the coat of arms is a miner holding a pickax. An anvil and sledge hammer appear on behind the miner, representing mining’s importance to West Virginia’s industrial growth.

In between the two men is a boulder inscribed with the date June 20, 1863, the day West Virginia became an official state of the Union. On the grass in front of the boulder are two rifles and a Phrygian, or liberty, cap, representing the importance of the West Virginia people’s conquest for liberty.

Although the current West Virginia flag was adopted in 1929, the West Virginia State Legislature adopted the state’s first flag in 1905. The original flag had a white background with a blue border, but a larger rhododendron appeared on the front of the flag and the West Virginia coat of arms appeared on the back. Two years later, in 1907, another version of the flag reversed the images: the rhododendron appeared on the back and the coat of arms on the front. Unfortunately, manufacturing a flag with different front and reverse sides was expensive, and by 1929, the state adopted a flag with the rhododendron and coat of arms depicted together on the same side.

Cotton, Nylon, and Koralex Flags by Valley Forge

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Flying a Valley Forge American Flag makes a statement. Not only are you displaying your patriotic spirit, but, by waving a United States flag manufactured by the Valley Forge Flag Company, you are supporting a business that has been family owned since 1882 and a company that is dedicated to manufacturing flags that are 100% American-made. With so many of our consumer goods being outsourced to other parts of the world, purchasing an American-made flag is one big way to support a business that is truly committed to keeping operations and materials in the United States.

The United States Flag Store is the largest online vendor of Valley Forge Flags and carries flags in cotton, nylon, and Koralex materials. The Valley Forge Best Cotton American Flags are the traditional choice for American flags. These flags are made of heavy-duty 2×2 ply mercerized cotton to ensure durability and weather resistance. The flag’s colors are rich and vibrant and wear well through outdoor weather. For even better durability, the Valley Forge Best cotton American flags are reinforced with four rows of stitching at the fly end. These traditional cotton flags are available in large sizes for outdoor use, including 3×5 feet, 4×6 feet, and 5×9.5 feet at unbeatable prices. At the United States Flag Store website, you’ll also find Valley Forge Best cotton flags in a 6×9.5’ government version and a Heritage series flag.

The Valley Forge Nylon American Flags are of highest quality nylon flags on the market and are a less expensive alternative to the traditional cotton flags. Featuring heavy-duty nylon construction, these flags are designed to resist the fading and fraying that occurs with repeated outdoor use. What makes the Valley Forge nylon American flags so special, however, is their elegant construction. With sewn stripes, embroidered stars, and heavily reinforced fly ends, these flags are a cut above many other nylon American flags on the market. Available in sizes ranging from 2×3 feet to 20×38 feet, and discounts available for ordering in large quantities, a Valley Forge nylon American flag just might be the perfect addition to your home or business.

Koralex II American Flags from the Valley Forge Flag Company are another great alternative to cotton flags. Koralex is a synthetic material that looks like coarse cotton but is more durable. Koralex flags resist fading and fraying better than cotton, making them perfect for outdoor use. The Valley Forge Koralex II flags available on the United States Flag Store website are beautifully crafted with sewn stripes and embroidered stars and feature a canvas or nylon heading with brass grommets. Koralex flags are available for as low as $21.95 and in sizes ranging from 3×5 feet to 20×38 feet.

Christmas Flags from the United States Flag Store

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Christmas is now less than two weeks away, but it’s not too late to complete your outdoor Christmas decor with a Christmas flag from the United States Flag Store. The United States Flag Store’s vibrantly colored, high quality, appliqued and embroidered decorative flags are the perfect way to show your holiday spirit. Decorative flags for Christmas are made of high-quality polyester for the best outdoor durability. Each meticulously crafted flag is individually tested to meet the United State’s Flag Store’s high standards.

The United States Flag Store has four beautiful fiber optic flags for the Christmas season. These flags actually light up, and they look perfect alongside an outdoor light display. Flags measure 28 x 40 inches, come with door hangers, and require three AA batteries (not included). Choose from a Welcome Snowman, Winter Wonderland, Reindeer, or Heavenly Peace design. All fiber optic flags are available at the United States Flag Store for just $31.95!

The Christmas Snowflake Flag is a beautiful outdoor banner flag with lots of texture and dimension. The flag is made of a green five-sided banner that is complete with red stripes, bells, and a large white snowflake in the center. This great flag measures 28 x 40 inches and is available from for just $21.

The Silly Santa Flag is another great banner flag for the Christmas Season. The Silly Santa Flag features a blue background and a large image of Santa, complete with the red hat, long white beard, and rosy cheeks. The text “Ho, Ho, Ho!” appears on Santa’s beard. This flag is available from the United States Flag Store for a low price of just $21!

These are just a few of the Christmas Flags available from the United States Flag Store. Visit the online store today for many more Christmas flag designs, including a candy canes, Christmas cats, ornaments, and other holiday scenes.

Flag of Delaware

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The flag of the state of Delaware was adopted on July 24, 1913. The flag is rectangular with a colonial blue background. The center of the flag features a buff-colored diamond and the Delaware coat of arms appears inside the diamond. The date December 7, 1787 appears on the bottom of the flag below the coat of arms. This date refers to the day on which the state of Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. This bold action made Delaware the first official state in the Union, and because of this, Delaware holds first position at national events like presidential inaugurations.

The other elements of Delaware’s state flag have important meaning for the state and recall the Revolutionary era. The blue and buff colors on the state flag of Delaware, for example, symbolize the colors of George Washington’s uniform.

The elements of the coat of arms also represent important people and industries of the state of Delaware during the Revolutionary era. The center of the coat of arms features a shield with horizontal red, blue, and white stripes. An ear of corn and sheaf of wheat appear in the red stripe, symbolizing the importance of agriculture in Delaware’s economy. The blue stripe is plain, representing the Delaware River, and the river’s importance to Delaware’s transportation and economy. An ox appears in the white stripe and reflects the importance of animals in Delaware’s economy. A ship appears above the shield, symbolizing the importance of shipbuilding and trade to Delaware’s economic livelihood.

Two men appear on either side of the coat of arms: a farmer with a hoe and a militiaman with a musket. These two men reinforce the importance of farming in Delaware and also emphasize the importance of the militia—an army made up of civilians—in gaining independence during the Revolution. Under the shield and the men are the words “Liberty and Independence,” Delaware’s state motto.

State Flag of Indiana

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The flag of the state of Indiana was adopted on May 31, 1917. The flag is rectangular with a blue background and features a gold torch. Thirteen gold stars surround the flag in a circular shape and five gold stars make up an inner semicircle. Just above the torch is one more star and the word, “INDIANA,” in gold lettering.

The symbolism of the Indiana state flag is relatively simple, although very meaningful. The torch symbolizes liberty and enlightenment, and the six rays around the torch’s flame represent the broadness and expansiveness of these values. As with other state flags that include thirteen stars, the thirteen gold stars that encircle the torch represent the thirteen original colonies of the United States. Indiana was the nineteenth state to enter the Union; and the five stars in the semicircle on the lower half of the flag symbolize the five states that entered the Union before Indiana. The star at the top of the torch, the largest star on the flag, stands for Indiana.

Although Indiana became a member of the United States in 1816, the state did not have a flag until its residents celebrated the Indiana Centennial in 1916. In anticipation of the centennial, the Indiana General Assembly requested that the Daughters of the American Revolution Indiana Chapter sponsor a contest for the state flag’s design.

After more than two hundred submissions were submitted, Paul Hadley, an artist living in Mooresville, Indiana, won the design contest, as well as a cash prize of one hundred dollars. The state flag was officially adopted on May 31, 1917, with the addition of the word “INDIANA” to Hadley’s original design. Since the flag’s adoption in 1917, the flag’s design has remained unchanged with the exception of a 1955 statute that standardized the flag’s dimensions.

State Flag of Maryland

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The Flag of Maryland
The Flag of Maryland

The flag of the state of Maryland was adopted on November 25, 1904. The Maryland flag is rectangular and divided into four fields. The top left and bottom right fields feature the coat of arms of the Calvert Family and the top right and bottom left feature the coat of arms of the Crossland family.

Maryland is the only state in the United States to use a British coat of arms for its state flag. The two coats of arms represent the banner of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, who was a British politician, colonizer, and Parliament member in the seventeenth century. Calvert became interested in establishing colonies in Newfoundland, and, after realizing Newfoundland’s weather was unsuitable for English settlers, began drafting a royal charter to colonize what is now the state of Maryland. Although Calvert died several weeks before the charter was sealed, Calvert is historically recognized as the founder of Maryland.

George Calvert’s son, Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore founded the colony of Maryland. From Maryland’s founding until the Civil War, only the gold and black Calvert coat of arms was used to represent Maryland. During the Civil War, Maryland remained in the Union; however, many of Maryland’s citizens chose to fight with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and began using the Crossland coat of arms as their secession banner.

After the Civil War, Maryland’s citizens began flying flags that included both coats of arms, in an effort to reconcile conflicted feelings. The flag of Maryland that is used today was first flown on October 11, 1880 at a parade marking the 150th anniversary of Baltimore’s fouding. It was later used on October 25, 1888 at Gettysburg during a ceremony dedicating monuments to the Maryland regiments that fought for the Army of the Potomac. Maryland’s state flag was officially adopted on November 25, 1904.

The flag of Maryland’s colors and symbols are used prominently throughout the state. The city of Baltimore and the counties of Baltimore, Howard, Calvert, and Worcester all have coats of arms and/or flags that incorporate one or both of the flag of Maryland’s coats of arms. The University of Maryland, Loyola University Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University, the Maryland’s sports teams all use the colors or symbols of the Maryland flag in some way as well.

One Life: One Flag Memorial

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From September 8 through September 12, over 3,000 flags will wave in New York City as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The flags are located in Manhattan’s Battery Park, just three blocks from the World Trade Center Memorial Museum. The memorial is free and open to the public.

The theme of the memorial is “One Life: One Flag,” and the memorial’s designers encourage visitors to reflect upon the enormous loss of human life that occurred on September 11, 2011.

The memorial contains 2,976 Flags of Honor and Flags of Heroes, all American flags representing someone who died in the attacks. The memorial also includes 96 international flags, one flag for each country who lost a citizen on September 11.

Annin Flagmakers have manufactured all the flags for this event. Annin Flagmakers are the oldest and largest makers of flags in the United States. Two brothers, Benjamin and Edward Annin founded the company in 1847 on Fulton Street in New York City. Aside from being the premier maker of flags in the United States, remaining family owned for over 150 years, and employing over 500 Americans, Annin’s New York City roots make them a particularly appropriate sponsor for the “One Life: One Flag” memorial.

Annin Flagmakers, the Healing Field Foundation, and the Flag of Honor Project collaborated to create the “One Life: One Flag” field.

Co-sponsors of the “One Life: One Flag” memorial include:

Collavino Construction Company

Con Ed

Foley Caterpillar

Haks Engineering

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation

Joe Tex Transportation/Logistics

National Independent Flag Dealers Association

New Jersey Manufacturer’s Insurance

USA Rigging Supply

“One Life: One Flag” volunteer organizations include:
Fort Dix

Fort Hamilton Military Base

Lakehurst Naval Base

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

McGuire Air Force Base

Tuesday’s Children

We Remember

We remember those who perished and the families left behind.

We remember the first responders who bravely raced to the rescue of others.

We remember those who courageously fight the wars on terrorism and those who gave their lives.

Flag of Arkansas

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The flag of the state of Arkansas is a U.S. state flag with a very interesting history and meaning behind it. The current state flag of Arkansas is rectangular with a red background. In the center of the flag is a large white diamond with a blue border. Twenty-five white stars appear inside the blue border. In the center of the white diamond, the word “Arkansas” appears in blue capital letters, with one blue star above and three blue stars below it.

Although the current version of the Arkansas state flag was adopted on March 16, 1924, Willie Kavanaugh Hocker designed Arkansas’s first state flag in 1912. In this year, the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Pine Bluff chapter decided to hold a contest to develop a design for Arkansas’s state flag. Willie Hocker, who was also a member of the Pine Bluff chapter, won the contest.

The original design for the Arkansas state flag is similar to the current version, but in the original version, only three stars appear, all in one line, in the center of the white diamond. The word “Arkansas” was not included in the original design. Arkansas’s Secretary of State Earle Hodges requested that Hocker add the state’s name to the flag, and Hocker complied, rearranging the stars so that one blue star appeared above “Arkansas” and two appeared below the name. The Arkansas state legislature adopted this version of the flag was adopted on February 26, 1913.

In 1923, for only one year, a fourth star was added above the state’s name. These four stars represented the Confederate States of America, and the three countries Arkansas has been part of: Spain, France, and the United States. In 1924, the Arkansas State legislature moved the fourth star below the word Arkansas, and rotated it so that the top point of the star faces downward.

The flag’s images have deep symbolic meaning. The diamond in the center of the flag represents that Arkansas, before recent diamond discovers in America’s Rocky Mountain region, was the only state in the United States that contained known quantities of diamonds. The twenty-five stars inside the diamond’s blue border represent Arkansas’s admission to the Union as the twenty-fifth state.

The four inner stars’ meanings are more complicated. The star above the word “Arkansas” is now said to represent the Confederate States of America. The three stars below Arkansas have three separate representations. First, the three stars represent the three states Arkansas has been a part of: Spain, France, and ultimately the United States. Second, the three stars represent the year 1803, when the Louisiana Purchase made present-day Arkansas part of the United States. Finally, the three stars also recognize that Arkansas was the third state admitted to the Union from the Louisiana Purchase’s territory.

September 11 Memorial Flags

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Our lives changed forever on the morning of September 11, 2011, when terrorist attacks devastated New York City’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Since September 11, 2011, countless troops have died in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other war zones around the world.

Each year, on September 11, we honor the victims of the September 11 attacks and those troops who have sacrificed their lives for our safety. Since September 11, Americans have become increasingly patriotic and Online Stores has supported Americans in the military by donating flags, flagpoles, and pins, among other items.

This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Cities around the country are planning memorial events to honor the victims of the attacks and American troops in combat. Online Stores has a variety of beautiful September 11 memorial flags to help you make the day more meaningful.

The USA 9/11 Flag

The USA 9/11 flag is designed based upon the United States flag. Instead of the traditional blue, fifty-star Union field, however, the USA 9/11 flag features an embroidered image of the New York City Skyline with the Twin Towers, white stars, and the date, September 11, 2011. The flag is 3’x5’ with sewn stripes and durable brass grommets.

Always remember....

The 9/11 Always Remember flag is a beautiful way to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks. The nylon flag features red and white stripes at the top and bottom, a blue image of the Statue of Liberty, and the following poem:

Remember the heroes,
born at ground zero.
Remember the price,
so many still pay.
Move on, face forward,
but remember the day.

Always Remember 9-11

This flag is available in the large 3’x5’ size and a vertically oriented garden size.

The 9/11 Remembrance flag features bold images of the New York City and Twin Towers skyline, red and white stripes disappearing into the horizon, and blue stars in the background. The words “Always remember 9/11” appear in the foreground of the flag, with the “11” designed to look like the Twin Towers. This flag is also available in 3’x5’ or garden size.

The 9/11 We Will Never Forget flag is specifically designed to honor the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The nylon flag features a photograph of the New York City skyline in the foreground and images of a police hat and firefighter’s hat in the upper left corner. The text “We Will Never Forget 2001-2011” appears in the upper right corner in bold white letters. This flag is made from top quality fabrics and can be used inside or outdoors.