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Flag of the Green Mountain Boys

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Green Mountain Boys flag
UseCivil and war flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
ProportionApprox. 2:3
AdoptedCirca 1776
DesignGreen field with a blue canton containing 13 white stars in a "natural pattern"

The Green Mountain Boys flag, also known as the Stark flag, is a reconstruction of a regimental flag commonly stated to have been used by the Green Mountain Boys.[1][2] The flag of the Green Mountain Boys has also been associated with the Vermont Republic.[3] A remnant of a Green Mountain Boys flag, originally belonging to John Stark, is owned by the Bennington Museum.[4] It still exists as one of the few regimental flags from the American Revolution. Although Stark was at the Battle of Bennington and likely flew this flag, the battle has become more commonly associated with the Bennington flag, which is believed to be a 19th-century banner.[5]

Today the flag is used as the regimental flag of the Vermont National Guard unit. The regimental flag, known also as a "battle flag" or war flag, accompanies the unit on battle assignments and is physically handed to the commander of the regiment, as described by former Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Martha Rainville in an interview.[6] The flag is also a symbol of the Vermont secessionist movement.[citation needed] The Castleton University football team has also featured the flag in its pre-game ceremonies since its inception in 2009.[citation needed] Proposals have been considered to change the state flag of Vermont back to the flag to the Green Mountain Boys' design, but none have succeeded.[7]

Design

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The common reconstruction consists of a green field and a constellation of thirteen five-pointed white stars representing the thirteen colonies arranged in a natural pattern within an azure canton. The existing fragments consist of the canton from the flag, which has remnants of green silk on three sides, and a piece of green cloth with flourish from elsewhere on the flag.[4]

Surviving Canton of the original flag, now held at the Bennington Museum.[8]
Replica of the 1777 flag from the Battle of Bennington.
A Vermont National Guard unit displaying the flag while abroad.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ William J. Bennett, John T. E. Cribb, The American Patriot's Almanac, Thomas Nelson Inc, 2008, p 34 states this flag was flown by the Green Mountain Boys at the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777.
  2. ^ Karen Price Hossell, Ethan Allen, Heinemann-Raintree Classroom, 2004, p 14.
  3. ^ Bushnell, Mark (5 July 2020). "Then Again: The evolution of the Vermont state flag". VTDigger.
  4. ^ a b Martucci, Dave (December 2008). "INFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION" (PDF). The New England Journal of Vexillology (23). New England Vexillogical Association: 1–2. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. ^ Cooper, Grace Rogers, Thirteen Star Flags, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1973, p 30. Available online (21.7 MB).
  6. ^ Major General Rainville describing examples of flag return from Iraq, Afghanistan or Bosnia
  7. ^ "Green Mountain Boys? - New Vermont State Flag Proposal". Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  8. ^ "Object Record".

Further reading

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  • Van de Water, Frederic Franklyn The Reluctant Republic: Vermont 1724–1791. The Countryman Press: 1974. ISBN 0-914378-02-3.
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