Four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief

[ArxVirtus]

I know the last one is the current presidential flag, but what are the other ones? Are they older versions?

[TortoiseWayfarers]

@ArxVirtus The fourth flag (blue one with 4 stars around the bald eagle) was the 1916 Army flag used as the presidential standard for Woodrow Wilson.

The fifth and last flag is the current presidential standard adopted in 1945 for Harry S. Truman. At the time there were only 48 stars surrounding the bald eagle since there were only 48 U.S. states. Now there are 50 stars denoting the 50 U.S. states.

[TortoiseWayfarers]

@ArxVirtus A very good question. The evolution of the presidential standard and colors is interesting. The first flag (the red one) was the 1898 Army flag that was also used as the presidential standard for William McKinley.

The second flag (the blue one with gold fringe) was the 1912 Army flag used as the presidential standard for William Howard Taft.

The third flag (blue one with bald eagle) was the 1902 Army flag used as the presidential standard for Theodore Roosevelt.

[TortoiseWayfarers]

@ArxVirtus Also, make note of the position of the bald eagle's head. When the eagle's head faces the arrows on the flag, it symbolizes a nation at war. When the eagle's head faces the olive branches, it symbolizes a nation at peace.

The 1916 flag of course would show the eagle's head facing the arrows since the U.S. was at war with germany in World War I.

[kaltrum]

@TortoiseWayfarers It's false, only an urban legend!