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Other Thin Line flags (U.S.)

Last modified: 2022-08-27 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | thin line |
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• Thin Green Line Flag
• Thin Orange Line Flag
• Thin Silver Line Flag
• Thin White Line Flags
• Thin Red Line Flag for Nurses
• Thin Yellow Line Flag
• Thin Gold Line Flag
• Thin Pink Line Flag
• Thin Purple Line Flag
• Thin Purple-Teal Line Flag
• Thin Camo Line Flag
• Multi-stripe flags
• Rainbow Thin Line Flags
• The Use of Thin Line Flags

See also:

• Police flags
• Commemorative flags
• United States of America

Thin Green Line Flag

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

The Thin Green Line Flag represents Federal Agents such as Border Patrol, Park Rangers, Game Wardens and Conservation Personnel. Some consider the Thin Green Line Flag as representing military as well.
Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

Photos of the Thin Green Line Flag - Stars and Stripes design, can be found here:
http://www.stevenstacticalshop.com/ebay-store/product/142349483736
https://www.iamericasflags.com/thin-green-line-black-and-white-american-flag-3x5/
https://www.amazon.com/Enforcement-Conservation-Environment-TrendyLuz-Flags/dp/B01NAV0T4Z
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

This basic design may also be described with word "subdued", as seen here: https://foreverwave.com/product/3x5-usa-subdued-thin-green-line-flag/. The displayed photo suggests a lighter shade of gray than seen at the other sites, but black also looks lighter there (more like FOTW color G++, or even lighter), meaning that it must be due to picture taking conditions.
Tomislav Todorovic, 2 October 2019

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

Another version of the flag is offered for sale here:
https://motoloot.com/products/street-speed-717-us-flag-thin-green-line-5x3

The photos reveal that it is another "blackout" flag design (red and blue replaced with black and white replaced with gray), although the word itself was not used.
Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

Thin Orange Line Flag

image by Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

The Thin Orange Line Flag represents Search and Rescue Personnel (SAR).
Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

The flag is sometimes also described as representing Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

Photos of the Thin Orange Line Flag - Stars and Stripes design, can be found here:
http://www.stevenstacticalshop.com/ebay-store/product/142349481819
https://www.iamericasflags.com/thin-orange-line-black-and-white-american-flag-3x5/
As can be seen, shade of orange seems to vary.
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

The orange stripe width may vary, as shown at https://www.flagandbanner.com/products/thin-orange-line-flag.asp, still remaining narrower than black portions of the field.
Tomislav Todorovic, 20 February 2019

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 20 February 2019

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 20 February 2019

There is also a variant with three stripes of equal width, as shown at https://www.flagcenter.com/thin-orange-line-3x5-ft-flag and https://www.flagcenter.com/thin-orange-line-house-banner/.

A vertical variant also exists, as shown at https://www.flagcenter.com/thin-orange-line-garden-flag and https://www.iamericasflags.com/ems-orange-line-double-applique-garden-flag.
As all these examples reveal, the flag ratio may vary between 2:3 and 3:5.
Tomislav Todorovic, 20 February 2019

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 13 October 2019

A variant of the Stars and Stripes version of the flag was recently introduced which employs gray color instead of white - color set described as "subdued. The flag is offered for sale here: https://foreverwave.com/product/usa-subdued-thin-orange-line-flag/
For now, only 2:3 ratio is available, but it may change in near future, as has happened with several other Thin Line flags with the same basic design.
Tomislav Todorovic, 13 October 2019

Thin Silver Line Flag

image by Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

The Thin Silver Line Flag represents Correctional Officers.
Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

The flag is also called Thin Gray Line Flag, as the stripe color varies from light to medium gray.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

Photos of the Thin Silver Line Flag (also called the Thin Gray Line Flag) - Stars and Stripes design, can be found here:
https://www.iamericasflags.com/thin-gray-line-black-and-white-american-flag-3x5/>
http://www.imgrum.org/media/1377064864756943704_3152725817
http://www.imgrum.org/media/1512544178582931676_30855482
http://www.imgrum.org/media/1389844474313720080_3152725817

The shade of gray clearly varies from light to medium to dark gray. The same is true for the decals, stickers, pins and other items bearing this pattern; a good example is a pin which is offered for sale here:
https://www.thinbluelineusa.com/collections/flags/products/thin-silver-line-american-flag-pin
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

Thin White Line Flags

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 15 February 2018

The Thin White Line Flag represents emergency medical services. The thin white line differs from other thin lines in that the background is blue instead of black, with a white line crossing horizontally through the middle.
Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 15 February 2018

Another variant would be a black background with white line.
Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 15 February 2018

A  novel design based on the U.S. national flag was also introduced and is offered for sale. It is derived from the flags on which both blue and red are replaced with black and the white stripe beneath the canton is repainted into one of the Thin Line colors. Here, the said stripe is white, while the other white stripes are changed into blue.
Tomislav Todorovic, 15 February 2018

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2020

Another version derived from the U.S. national flag replaces red and blue colors with black and white color with gray, leaving only the white stripe beneath the canton unchanged (the "default" Thin Line position on such flags). This has been a rather popular design for patches, stickers etc. for a long time, but the flags with this design are still extremely rare - currently, only there is only one online shop:
https://backyourhero.com/products/ems-emt-thin-white-line-flag-3x5-feet-with-grommets which sells them.
Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2020

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 30 April 2021

Unlike many other Thin Line flags, there has been no version so far for this one derived from the black and white variation of the USA national flag. However, such a flag has recently been offered for sale here: https://shopbo15.com/collections/the-thin-line-collection/products/thin-line-garden-flag (image: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1204/6702/products/Garden_Flag_White_574x574.jpg)

The problem of making the Thin White Line distinctive on a flag with this basic design, which is certainly the reason why it was not created earlier, has been solved here by repainting one of white stripes into blue and placing the line upon it. The flag is currently offered with the ratio of 2:3 only.
Tomislav Todorovic, 30 April 2021

Thin Red Line Flag for Nurses

image by Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

A Thin Red Line Flag represents Registered Nurses. The Thin Red Line differs from other thin lines in that the background is white instead of black, with a red line crossing horizontally through the middle. It is interesting to note that the same Thin Red Line design originally came about as a description used to refer to an outgunned military unit holding firm against attack.
Pete Loeser, 3 June 2017

Thin Yellow Line Flag

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

The thin yellow line flag is used for security (banks, stadiums), loss prevention officers (prevention​ of there).
Zachary Harden, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

Thin Yellow Line, which represents tow truck drivers, security officers and loss prevention personnel.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 28 April 2021

Another variant of the Stars and Stripes design, which employs gray color instead of white (color set described as "subdued"), was recently introduced. The flag is offered for sale here: https://foreverwave.com/product/3x5-usa-subdued-thin-yellow-line-flag/.. For now, only 3:5 ratio is available.
Tomislav Todorovic, 28 April 2021

Thin Gold Line Flag/A>

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic,, 3 June 2017

The Thin Gold Line flag represents the dispatchers and communication personnel.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 28 April 2021

Another variant of the Stars and Stripes design, which employs gray color instead of white (color set described as "subdued"), was recently introduced. The flag is offered for sale here: https://foreverwave.com/product/usa-subdued-thin-gold-line-flag/. For now, only 3:5 ratio is available.
Tomislav Todorovic, 28 April 2021

Thin Pink Line Flag/A>

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

Unlike the other Thin Line symbols, the Thin Pink Line does not represent solidarity with some of the emergency services: it stands for the breast cancer awareness. Its color is borrowed from the older and well-established symbol of breast cancer awareness, the pink ribbon [1]. Most frequently, the flag using this symbol is a black and white variation of the USA national flag (both blue and red colors replaced with black), with the white stripe beneath the canton being repainted into pink [2, 3, 4]. The same symbol is sometimes described as symbolizing the support to women in emergency services and in military, but the breast cancer awareness is definitely the dominant symbolism [5].

The flag with a pink horizontal stripe on black field seems not to have appeared yet, but the design is much used for the decals, pins and other items which can copy the flag design, so it is probably just a matter of time when such flags will be offered for sale.

Sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3aAXGaFMSN/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Sources:
[1] List of awareness ribbons at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awareness_ribbons
[2] Thin Pink Line Flag at AmericanFlags.com: https://www.americanflags.com/thpilifl.html
[3] Thin Pink Line Flag at eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/THIN-PINK-LINE-3x5-FLAG-BREAST-CANCER-SUPPORT-BANNER-SURVIVORS/153134763476
[4] Thin Pink Line Flag at Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/AES-Embroidered-Resistant-Stitched-Grommets/dp/B07DC9WP2V
[5] Thin Pink Line Flag at Briumsstor: https://www.briumsstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=447521
Tomislav Todorovic, 24 November 2019
Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 24 November 2019

Another variant of the Stars and Stripes design, which employs gray color instead of white (color set described as "subdued"), was recently introduced. The ratio may vary, being either 3:5, as shown here: https://foreverwave.com/product/3x5-usa-subdued-thin-pink-line-flag-copy/ or 2:3, as shown here: https://foreverwave.com/product/usa-subdued-thin-pink-line-flag/.

The shade of gray seems to be somewhat lighter than on other flags with this design, although it is not easy to tell, given how it varies between different photos depending on picture taking conditions.
Tomislav Todorovic, 24 November 2019

Thin Purple Line Flag

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

Thin Purple Line, or Thin Violet Line, stands for "person(s) who died or suffered great injury while in political office due to violence" [1, 2]. Alternately, it is sometimes attributed to the "used by a civilian who is in possession of a conceal and carry permit and is willing to help when needed" [3]. One flag employing this symbol has a horizontal purple stripe on black field [1, 3], while the other is the black and white variation of the USA national flag (both blue and red colors replaced with black), with the white stripe beneath the canton being repainted into purple, the color shade varying greatly from nearly indigo to nearly crimson [2, 4, 5].
Tomislav Todorovic, 26 May 2018

Thin Purple-Teal Line Flag

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 27 October 2019

Thin Purple-Teal Line Flag is another design which does not stand for solidarity with some of the emergency services: it represents suicide awareness and prevention, using the colors of the appropriate awareness ribbon [1]. This was certainly inspired by the Thin Pink Line Flag which stands for the breast cancer awareness. The only flag version currently known is the black and gray ("subdued") variation of the USA national flag, the ratio being 2:3, with the stripe beneath the canton bearing the awareness colors [2]. While the source photo [2] confirms that the ratio is indeed 2:3, as stated at the page, it also shows that the flag looks as if it was originally made with the ratio 3:5 and subsequently shortened, for the purple segment of colored stripe is visibly longer than the teal one; however, the 3:5 variant seems not to exist yet, for it has not been offered for sale, so the presented flag image is made with the ratio as displayed and both segments occupying equal portions of the stripe, for there seems to be no sense in intentional making one longer than the other.

Sources:
[1] Disabled World website - Awareness Ribbons Chart - Multi-Colored Ribbons: https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/ribbons.php#multi
[2] Forever Wave online shop - Thin Purple-Teal Line Flag: https://foreverwave.com/product/usa-subdued-thin-purple-teal-line-flag-2/
Tomislav Todorovic, 27 October 2019

Thin Camo Line Flag

Recently, the Thin Camo Line design was introduced to represent the military, which variants which represent different branches of the military by employing the camouflage patterns specific for them.
Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

Multi-stripe flags

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 3 June 2017

Designs also exist which combine three or even more Thin Line colors. Only one such flag is currently known, with the stripe beneath the canton parted red and blue and an additional green stripe placed beneath it. Its photo is available here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Thin-half-red-and-blue-Line-one-green-line-striped-black-and-white-American-Flag-90x150cm/32810211594.html?spm=2114.40010508.4.5.nJWZ0u.
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 June 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 12 October 2017

Another flag which combines more than two Thin Line colors has recently appeared: the stripe beneath the canton is parted red and blue, standing for the police and firefighters, and an additional orange stripe is placed beneath it and said to represent emergency medical service. The flag is offered for sale at https://happy.myecomshop.com/product/dual-3/

While no photo of a real flag is presented, it is clear from the accompanying description that the image is related to a flag, not another object with a flag-like design.
Tomislav Todorovic, 12 October 2017

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

A number of flag designs with three separate lines in blue, red and green, respectively, has also appeared. On the stickers, patches, pins etc. the order of colors varies, but the only flag currently known, which is offered for sale at https://www.flagsimporter.com/usa-thin-blue-red-green-line-flag-3x5ft-poly has blue (beneath the canton) above green above red. Curiously, the item description suggests a different color order, i.e. blue above red above green, suggesting that a different flag may soon appear.
Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

Photos of this flag are presented by another seller, which offers it here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233015454714.
Tomislav Todorovic, 28 January 2019

This flag was used at a pro-Trump rally in California on 2020-11-01, which gathered at Paso Robles and went down the US Route 101 to finish in Santa Maria.
Source:
Paso Robles Press website:
https://pasoroblespress.com/news/politics/community-rallies-in-paso-before-maga-drag-the-interstate/
(image #1: https://pasoroblespress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020-MAGA-Drag-and-Rally-78-1080x720.jpg)
(image #2: https://pasoroblespress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020-MAGA-Drag-and-Rally-87-1080x720.jpg)
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 February 2021

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 31 July 2022

A flag with a different arrangement of blue, red and green stripes was reported in August 2020:
http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2020/08/what-does-thin-lines-flag-mean.html
The author of the blog, who lives in Boise, Idaho (https://www.blogger.com/profile/04032747070969465341) claims to have seen it near his home. On this flag, the position of the blue stripe was unchanged (immediately above the canton), while red was above it and green was the topmost one, also resulting in a different arrangement of white stripes.
Tomislav Todorovic, 31 July 2022

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

Another flag with three Thin Line colors is offered for sale at https://www.amazon.com/Pointview-Flags-Thin-Blue-Gold/dp/B0785RBY2D. Derived from the Thin Red/Blue Line Flag with the Stars and Stripes design it adds a gold fly portion to the colored stripe, thus standing for firefighters, police and dispatchers.
Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

Triband flags with three Thin Line colors are also being introduced. The first flag with such design, offered for sale at http://www.flagguys.com/police.html (image: http://www.flagguys.com/img/thin%20line%20flag.jpg) displays a red-white-blue stripe, thus standing for the firefighters, EMS personnel and police.
Tomislav Todorovic, 23 January 2019

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 2 February 2020

Flags with four Thin Line colors are also being introduced. The first of these is called Honor The 4 Flag and employs the following colors: green (for military), blue (for police), red (for firefighters) and white (for EMS). The basic design is that of the Stars and Stripes, in "subdued" color scheme (gray instead of white and black instead of red and blue), with four gray stripes in center and bottom being replaced with colored ones in the above order. The flag is currently offered for sale in two variants, with the ratios of 2:3 [1] and 3:5 [2], respectively. While the 2:3 variant's images reveal that the stars are clearly gray [1], those of the 3:5 variant display white stars [2]. However, clicking on the displayed image reveals an enlarged one, with white stripe only partly painted, the portion near the fly being gray; this poorly performed image editing suggests that the same was done with the stars, their white color being a a hyper-correction. The fact that all other designs by the same manufacturer invariably display gray stars only, also speaks in favor of this assumption.

Sources:
[1] https://foreverwave.com/product/usa-subdued-honor-the-4-flag/
[2] https://foreverwave.com/product/3x5-usa-subdued-honor-the-4-flag/
Tomislav Todorovic, 2 February 2020

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 2 February 2020

Another flag with four Thin Line colors is named Protect The 3 Flag, which may seem somehow misleading, but may be explained by considering the dispatchers, which are represented here by yellow color (instead of typically used gold), as part of other three services instead one of its own, those being the police, firefighters and EMS, represented by the usual blue, red and white colors, respectively. The design is another "subdued" (gray instead of white) Stars and Stripes variant, with two topmost gray stripes followed by yellow, blue, red and green ones, respectively. The flag is offered for sale here:
https://foreverwave.com/product/usa-subdued-protect-the-3-flag
Tomislav Todorovic, 2 February 2020

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 9 May 2021

Another flag which employs red, white and blue Thin Line colors together is a black and gray Stars and Stripes flag (gray replacing white and black replacing both red and blue) with the white stripe beneath the canton, red stripe placed above and blue stripe placed beneath it; the ratio is 3:5 [1]. The manufacturer has also posted a photo of the flag in use at Twitter [2].

Sources:
[1] Flags USA online shop - presentation of the flag: https://www.flagsusa.com/thin-red-white-blue-line-american-flag-3x5-for-outdoor-use/
[2] Flags USA at Twitter - Photo of the flag: https://twitter.com/flagsusa/status/1279036238167769089

Rainbow Thin Line Flags

image from Tomislav Todorovic, 7 October 2017

The appearance of "Thin Line" flags which combine the Stars and Stripes design in black and white with more than one Thin Line colors has eventually inspired the Gay Pride variant, in which a white stripe is replaced with six segments in rainbow colors. The flag is offered for sale at https://www.etsy.com/.

While the photo confirms that the ratio is indeed 2:3, as stated at the page, it also shows that the flag looks as if it was originally 3:5 and subsequently shortened, for the red segment of rainbow-colored stripe is visibly shorter than the others. The relative position of the edges of canton and green segment is also the one which corresponds to ratio 3:5, which was therefore used for the reconstruction presented herein.
Tomislav Todorovic, 7 October 2017

The Use of Thin Line Flags

Since 2018, a collection of Thin Line triband flags has been hung over an overpass in Barnstable, MA, which was then named the First Responders Appreciation Overpass. The flags were vandalized or stolen five times so far, the last time in January 2021, the report on the event being available here: https://whdh.com/news/reward-offered-after-first-responder-flags-on-cape-overpass-sprayed-with-destructive-liquid/.

In the video, the most complete view of the flags is visible @ 0:15-0:18 and displays a USA national flag on a flagstaff in center, with a more complex flag, or perhaps just a banner with the inscription FIRST RESPONDERS and several symbols which are hard to recognize (with the exception of the Star of Life), hung on the overpass fence beneath it and surrounded with the Thin Line flags, which are arranged in the following order:
- from the left-side end towards the center: Thin Silver, Green, Orange and Blue Line flags;
- from the center towards the right-side end: Thin Red, Yellow, White and Gold Line Flags.

The colored stripe occupies one-third of the flag width on all flags except the Thin Blue and Red Line flags, where it is narrower.

For most of those flags, this video is one of rare examples of their real-life use, thereby verifying it.
Tomislav Todorovic, 4 February 2021

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