| l started On January 1, 1776, when the Continental | | | | shoulder sleeve emblems called patches usually |
| Army was reorganized in accordance with a | | | | embroidered, military crest, made of medal with inlaid |
| Congressional resolution, which placed American | | | | unit colors that may match the corresponding uniform |
| forces under George Washington's control. On that | | | | patches colors, military medals earned with military |
| New Year's Day the Continental Army was laying | | | | ribbons to match, special training military badges e.g. |
| siege to Boston, which had been taken over by the | | | | military wings, technical specialties, and time served |
| British Army. Washington ordered the Grand Union | | | | being a few of the many ways to decorate a U.S. |
| flag hoisted above his base at Prospect Hill. It had 13 | | | | Military uniform. Surprisingly the topics on American |
| alternate red and white stripes and the British Union | | | | uniform insignia are many and are of varying interest |
| Jack in the upper left-hand corner. Then In May of | | | | to people all over the world. |
| 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first | | | | Almost every color in the spectrum is found in the |
| American flag we know that American flag today | | | | American military uniform insignia starting with the |
| after many additional stars. | | | | Purple Heart Medal first authorization requested by |
| On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag | | | | George Washington for the Continental solders |
| for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed | | | | wounded in winning our freedom from the British. |
| the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the | | | | Two of my ancestors who qualified for this medal |
| United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate | | | | were the Macamus brothers who volunteered to join |
| red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white | | | | the militia to fight the British at the battle of Kings |
| in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." | | | | Mountain. This battle was considered by many |
| Color military uniforms quickly followed. Differences | | | | historians to be a turning point in the outcome of the |
| had to be established between Americans and the | | | | revolution. |
| British who made such wonderful targets with their | | | | The kaleidoscope of color that exists in military |
| red coats. By 1777 most of the Colonial companies | | | | insignia attracts many people. Some are active, some |
| were uniformed in blue faced with red. Some | | | | have served in various Military units, military insignia |
| incorporated white in some manner with gold being | | | | collectors, with a love for the military and the beauty |
| used signifying rank. Blue and gold in military insignia | | | | of the uniforms and different insignia they represent. |
| remain a predominant color to this day. This also was | | | | Veterans and Veterans families and American unit |
| the beginning the proliferation of colored insignia on | | | | enactors, in many different countries, just to name a |
| American military uniforms as well as on law | | | | few. Don't forget the movies, everyone's favorite. |
| enforcement and most uniforms emblems worn by | | | | U.S. Army insignia is alive and well in the movies. They |
| other American enterprises. | | | | need insignia also to represent the correct time |
| Today one will find colored insignia on uniforms that | | | | period of the film or story involved. |
| may include military rank, various unit identification. e.g. | | | | |