Our Flag Was Still There

1812 New Orleans:

The Battle of New Orleans was fought two weeks after the treaty ending the War of 1812 was signed. In the battle, General Andrew Jackson led American forces to victory over the British, enhancing his national reputation and paving the way for his presidency.

1812 American Line:

Artist’s rendering of American troops hoisting “Old Glory” and being led into battle.

1812 Chesapeake Bay Ships:

The British fleet blockades American ships in the Chesapeake Bay early in the War of 1812.

1812 USS Chesapeake:

Boarding and taking of USS Chesapeake by HMS Shannon.

1812 USS Constitution vs HMS Guerrire:

The USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere, was a single ship action between the two ships during the War of 1812. It took place shortly after war had broken out, and would prove to be an important victory for American morale.

Perry to Niagara:

USS Niagara was Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's relief flagship in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Perry sent his classic message of victory, "We have met the enemy and they are ours..."

Fort McHenry flag:

The British attack on Fort McHenry began early on September 13, 1814 in pouring rain.  All through the day and into the night, rockets and shells battered the fort that guarded Baltimore Harbor.  The flag measured 30 by 42 feet, was made from 400 yards of wool bunting, the 15 stars each measured two feet from point to point.

Constitution defeats Java:

The British Royal Navy 38-gun fifth-rate frigate, HMS Java is captured by the USS Constitution. After a five-hour long engagement, off the coast of Brazil, Java struck her colours and surrendered having suffered 57 crewmen killed and 83 wounded. Her Captain, Henry Lambert, was fatally wounded. The Americans lost nine killed and 57 wounded, including their Captain, William Bainbridge.

Mex-Ame Battle of Buena Vista:

February 22–23, 1847, he battle was the last major battle in northern Mexico. It was Major General Zachary Taylor's greatest victory of the war. His victory at Buena Vista and his legendary command to Cap. Bragg helped him win election as President of the United States in 1848.

Mex-Ame War Siege of Veracruz:

On March 9, 1847, General Scott landed with an army of 12,000 men on the beaches near Veracruz, Mexico's most important eastern port city.

Civil War 9th at Shiloh:

The 9th was at Shiloh, Tennessee on April 6, 1862 when the Confederate Army of the Mississippi struck at dawn. Major General U.S. Grant ordered his division commanders to hold at all costs.  The 9th regiment was ordered to a tree-choked ravine, and found themselves in a race with Confederates for the same natural barrier. The 9th got there first.

Civil War - 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg:

On the morning of July 2, 1863, the First Minnesota, took its position in the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Advancing at double time, the Minnesotans charged into the leading Confederate brigade with unbounded fury. Fighting against overwhelming odds, the heroic Minnesotans gained the time necessary for the Union line to reform.

Civil War - 12th Maine at Gettysburg:

The Battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle ever fought in the Western hemisphere, is often called the turning point of the Civil War.  Commanded by Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain, they held off six attacks. He ordered a counterattack with fixed bayonets, and the 20th charged down the slopes of Little Round Top into the startled Confederates and broke their attack. The 20th Maine took 400 prisoners and stopped the Confederates threat to the Union flank.

Civil War - Fort Wagner South Carolina:

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was recruited in the spring of 1863 by Governor John Andrew.  Despite withering cannon and rifle fire, the men sustained their charge on Fort Wagner until they reached the top of the rampart. There, Sergeant William Carney, who had earlier taken up the National Colors planted the flag and fought off numerous attempts by the Confederates to capture it.  Despite two severe wounds, Sergeant Carney carried the colors to the rear. When praised for his bravery, he modestly replied, "I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground."

Spanish American War:

On April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in the Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. The U.S. also supported the ongoing struggle of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines for independence against Spanish rule.

Spanish American Stivers:

During the Battle of Las Guasimas, Cuba, June 24, 1898, Major Bell of the 1st Cavalry had gone down with a wound to the leg. Captain C.G. Ayers attempted to carry him from the field, but his shattered leg bone broke through the skin causing so much pain that Ayers had to let him down.  Private Augustus Walley, of the famed "Buffalo Soldiers", ran to help.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders:

Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders Capturing San Juan Hill in Cuba.

WWI Soldier and Sailor:

USS President Lincoln (1917-1918) A U.S. Army "Doughboy" congratulates a member of one of the ship's gun crews for efficient watch in the submarine zone, while en route to France during World War I.

WWI American troops in Vladivostok:

American troops in Vladivostok parading before the building occupied by the staff of the Czecho-Slovaks; Japanese marines stand at attention as the troops march by, August 1918.

WWI Armistice November 1918:

The announcing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, was the occasion for a monster celebration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thousands massed on all sides of the replica of the Statue of Liberty on Broad Street, and cheered unceasingly.

WW2 Burial at Sea:

Two enlisted men of the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier LISCOME BAY, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Gilbert Islands, are buried at sea from the deck of a transport ship. November 1943.

WW2 Storming the Beach:

American Army troops of the 163rd Infantry Regiment storm the beach during the invasion of Wakde Island, New Guinea. May 17, 1944.

WW2 Planting the Flag in Guam:

Just 8 minutes after U.S. Marines and Army assault troops landed on Guam, two U.S. officers plant the American flag, using a boat hook as a mast. July 20, 1944.

WW2 Iwo Jima Flag Raising:

Members of the U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy raise the American flag on Mount Suribachi during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima.

WW2 Second Flag Raising:

February 23 1945. At about 2.35pm, Joe Rosenthal, an Associated Press photographer “embedded” with the Marines, photographs the raising of the second flag. This shot will become the iconic Iwo Jima image.

WW2 Allied POW's:

Allied POWs at Aomori camp near Yokohama cheer their U.S. Navy liberators, waving flags of the United States, Great Britain and Holland. August 29, 1945.

Korean War - USS Cape Esperance:

USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88, raising the flag as the ship is re-commissioned for Korean War service, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 5 August 1950.

Korean War - UN Cemetery:

United Nations Cemetery, Pusan, Korea.  Two sailors from USS Toledo (CA-133) pay their respects at the American plot in the UN Cemetery.

Korea View:

Republic of Korea (ROK) and United States (U.S.) soldiers monitor the Korean Demilitarized Zone from atop Observation Post (OP) Ouellette. View looking north from south.

Korean War Flag:

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. 1st Class Luther Leguire raises the U.S. flag at the American consulate in Seoul, Korea, while fighting for the city raged around the compound, Sept. 27, 1950.

Korean War Ceremony:

Andrew "Buddy" Blair, a Korean War veteran, rolls up the American flag after a ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the start of the Korean War at the Texas Korean War Veterans Memorial on Friday, June 25, 2010.

Vietnam War - Ocean View:

U.S. Marines fly the Stars and Stripes over a small outpost nicknamed "Ocean View," located in the demilitarized zone in South Vietnam, on July 7th, 1968.

Vietnam War - Marine and Flag:

A U.S. Marine waves an American flag tied to a tree branch before securing it on the brick wall of a citadel in Hue, South Vietnam, Feb. 1968 during the Vietnam War. The Marines charged the wall while under fire to secure the flag here as fighting continues in the old imperial fortress for the third straight week.

Gulf War - Camp Dhahran:

Far from home, the American flag provides military personnel with a sense of purpose, comfort and duty. These soldiers fly the flag at their camp in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, during the Persian Gulf War in December 1990.

Deep Quest Team with American flag:

American Flag held over a sunken American ship off the coast of Brazil.

Gulf War Troops:

American troop driving down the streets of Kuwait during its liberation.
 

Gulf War Sunset:

The sun setting in Kuwait, as a soldier stands and observes.
 

Buzz salutes the US Flag:

Buzz Aldrin with saluting the U.S. Flag on the Moon, 20 July 1969.

World Trade Center:

In this iconic image from Sept. 11, 2001, firefighters raise the American flag above the rubble of the World Trade Center. The United States experienced a great surge of patriotism following the shocking acts of terrorism perpetrated by al-Qaida.

Honor Guard:

A U.S. Army honor guard carries the flag draped coffin of Sgt. Jon Stiles during an honor ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO., Nov. 21, 2008.

Marine and Flag:

A U.S. Marine from 3rd Battalion 4th Marines, adjusts the U.S. Flag on top of his tent on base Delaram in the Nimroz province.

Marine at Iraq Port:

A Marine of the U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Fox Company 'Raiders' replaces the Iraqi flag at the entrance to Iraq's main port of Umm Qasr on March 21, 2003 with the Stars and Stripes and the flag of the Marine Corps.

Gulf War Humvee:

A U.S. soldier flashes the 'V' sign from his position on top of a Humvee guarding the U.S. Embassy compound, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 1991, in Kuwait City.

Flag-Iraq:

American troops pose with Old Glory during the Gulf War.

Iraq War - Flag draped coffins:

Flag draped coffins return home through Dover Air force Base.

Flag on USS Leyte Gulf:

The holiday flag is raised aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) as the ship participates in a combined formation of the Enterprise carrier Strike Group and the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group.

Afghanistan War - Half Staff:

A flag at flag at half staff, remembering a fallen comrade in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan War - Sun Set:

After a year as the leader of 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2/2 Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Lt. Troy Peterson has been promoted to Fox Company's executive officer. That means he must leave 3rd Platoon, which is stationed at Combat Outpost Mizan in Kandahar province, and head to the sprawling Forward Operating Base Apache in Qalat. Before leaving, Peterson took a memento from his time leading troops at Mizan — the American flag that has flown over the base for the last three months. Tattered by relentless wind and dust, it was time to put up a new flag anyhow.

Afghanistan War - Marine Kneeling:

“...and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  Amen.”

Memorial Day:

Relatives and volunteers planted 33,000 flags in the Boston Common in advance of the Memorial Day weekend, in tribute to Massachusetts soldiers killed in conflicts as far back as the Civil War.

Floral Flag:

Here is a picture of a floral flag next to Vandenberg AFB in Santa Maria, CA.  It is a tribute to men and woman serving in the military.

North Pole:

On 7 July 1962, the USS Skate set course towards the North Pole. Five days later, USS Seadragon (SSN-584), did likewise from Pearl Harbor.  The two submarines made their rendezvous on 31 July. After meeting, they operated together for over a week.  Both submarines surfaced at the North Pole on 2 August and official greetings and insignia of Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet and Submarine Force Pacific Fleet were exchanged.

Original South Pole:

In 1957, the iconic striped pole marking the South Pole flies the American flag. The pole itself stood atop the station. Inside, a team of more than a dozen scientists, mechanics and other staff were the first humans to spend an austral winter at the bottom of the world.  The United States has had people stationed the Pole year-round ever since.

South Pole Flag:

The American flag in the South Pole, picture taken on November 22, 2006.

1984 Olympics:

Teammates in the USA women's 4 x 100 meter relay swim team stop in front of a giant American flag to wave to fans after winning the gold medal and setting a world record in the finals of the event during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. From left are Jenna Johnson, Dara Torres, Carrie Steinseifer, and Nancy Hogshead.

Miracle on Ice:

American right seized upon the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 when a ragtag U.S. hockey team defeated the World Champion Soviet Union team and went on to win the gold medal at the Lake Placid, N.Y. Winter Olympics.

Flag and Space Shuttle:

The Shuttle Enterprise with the American flag, taken on July 16, 2006 in Dulles International Airport, VA.

Space Station: 

STS-135 final mission to Space Station with US Flag flown on STS-1.

SpaceShipOne:

On Oct. 4, 2004 SpaceShipOne and X Prize team members pose with a U.S. flag carried aboard the spacecraft after its successful flight into space and landing at Mojave, Calif.

Summit of Mount Everest:

Jim Whittaker becomes the first American to reach Mount Everest summit on May 1, 1963.

USA Flag Underwater:

The United States Flag underwater on the USS Spiegel Grove intentionally sunk and made into an artificial reef, 17 May 2002 six miles off the Florida Keys, in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Flag and Shuttle:

The space shuttle Discovery, sitting atop NASA's 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, flies past the Washington monuments flags.

Navy Diver:

Petty Officer 1st Class Julius McManus, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1, plants an American flag on the site where an American WWII military aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean.