A civil flag is a version of the national flag that is flown by civilians on non-government installations or craft. The use of civil flags was more common in the past, in order to denote buildings or ships that were not manned by the military. In some countries the civil flag was the same as the war flag or state flag, but without the coat of arms, such as in the case of Spain, and in others it was an alteration of the war flag. Many countries, particularly those with a British heritage, still have distinctive civil flags (technically civil ensigns) for use at sea, many based on the British Red ensign. A war flag is a flag used by military forces. ... The flags of the U.S. states exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. ... An ensign is a distinguishing token, emblem, badge, or flag such as a symbol of office. ... The Red Ensign, as currently used by the United Kingdoms Merchant Navy The Red Ensign is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. ...
United States "civil flag"?
It is sometimes alleged that the United States had a civil flag, also called peacetime flag, that was like the Star and Stripes flag but with blue stars on a white background, and vertical stripes instead of the usual horizontal stripes; there is no known evidence for this assertion, and it is almost certainly false. Flag ratio: 10:19; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in...