Flag of the Green Mountain Boys facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and war flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | Approx. 2:3 |
| Adopted | Circa 1776 |
| Design | Green field with a blue canton containing 13 white stars in a "natural pattern" |
The Green Mountain Boys flag, also called the Stark flag, is a recreated flag. It is believed to have been used by a group of soldiers called the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolutionary War. A small piece of an original Green Mountain Boys flag, which belonged to a leader named John Stark, is kept at the Bennington Museum. It is one of the few military flags from the American Revolution that still exists today.
Even though John Stark was at the Battle of Bennington and likely used this flag, that battle is more often linked to the Bennington flag. The Bennington flag is thought to be a newer flag from the 1800s.
Today, the Green Mountain Boys flag is used by the Vermont National Guard as their official unit flag. This type of flag, also known as a "battle flag," travels with the unit when they go on missions. It is physically given to the commander of the unit. The flag is also a symbol for a group that wants Vermont to become an independent country. The Castleton University football team has also used the flag in their pre-game events since 2009.
What Does the Green Mountain Boys Flag Look Like?
The flag we see today is a recreation of the original. It has a green background. In the top left corner, there is a blue rectangle called a "canton." Inside this blue canton, there are thirteen white, five-pointed stars. These stars are arranged in a natural pattern and represent the original thirteen American colonies.
The small pieces of the original flag that still exist include the blue canton. This piece has small bits of green silk on three of its sides. There is also another piece of green cloth with a decorative design from a different part of the flag.
Images for kids
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Surviving Canton of the original flag, now held at the Bennington Museum.
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A Vermont National Guard unit displaying the flag while abroad.
