Fringe On The U.S. Flag What Does It Mean? Admiralty Courts in Colorado?

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[Pharmboy]

I have not yet seen this addressed on FR, although I'm sure it has. Does the fringe really mean martial law? Well, this flag is in all schools, but what does it really mean? Help me out here, Freepers...

[FreedomCalls]

It's a decorative flag. Nothing more.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks. From what I've read, the fringed flag should never be flown outdoors. That's it.

[KC Burke]

What does the fringe on the flag represent?

The gold trim is found on ceremonial flags, to be used indoors and for ceremonies only. They originally were used on military flags. The fringe has no specific significance, but is considered completely within the guidelines of proper flag etiquette. There is nothing in the flag code indicating that the fringe is for federal government flags only. The Internet contains many sites that claim that the fringe indicates martial law or that the Constitution does not apply in that area. These are entirely unfounded (usually citing Executive Order 10834 and inventing text that is not part of the order) and should be dismissed as urban legends.

[Army Air Corps]

Don your tinfoil hat guys and gals, the old "We are living under martioal law because the US flag has fringe" conspiracy theory has bobbed to the surface again.

[annyokie]

Right. They are ceremonial and not meant to be flown. We have one in our office.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks...this issue has been rattling around in my brain for a while, and I figured I could get good info on FR.

[Ramius]

[sigh] Well... at least this particular conspiracy theory doesn't seem to be cropping up as often as it used to...

Watch out for the flags fringed in *silver* though... don't EVEN ask me what that means. I'll deny it.

[Congressman Billybob]

This is a tin-foil article. However, there ARE circumstances in which Admiralty law applies on dry land. One of the three decisions handed down in this Supreme Court Term to date involved the insurance coverage applicable to a railroad accident that destroyed $1.5 million worth of equipment.

The Court ruled, correctly, that Admiralty law applied to the loss coverage on that accident due to the shipping documents which applied to the shipment "portal to portal" from the manufacturer in Australia to the purchaser in Huntsville, Alabama.

So, there ARE dry land applications of Admiralty law on dry land. Every port city maintains full-time Admiralty courts. However, they do NOT depend on the fold fringe on a US flag.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest, "Should the Iraqi Election be Delayed?"

[Army Air Corps]

This is not THE oddest conspiracy theory, but it does rank fairly high on the scale. The one that makes me laugh most is that NASA is part of an international Freemason Plot to rule the world. Just thinking about that one causes some chuckles.

[Pharmboy]

No no no...that's not me. I just wanted to know the truth. I had never seen this discussed here and I wanted to know what Freepers thought. We don't have a curfew in my neighborhood (;-D

[El Gato]

Does the fringe really mean martial law? Well, this flag is in all schools, but what does it really mean? Help me out here, Freepers...

No, it's merely decorative. Such flags have been used in schools, libraries, state and local government offices since at least the 1950s, by personal recollection, and I suspect much longer than that.

[FreedomCalls]

https://www-perscom.army.mil/tagd/tioh/FAQ/FringeOnAmFlg.htm

FRINGE ON THE AMERICAN FLAG

    Gold fringe is used on the National flag as an honorable enrichment only. It is not regarded as an integral part of the flag and its use does not constitute an unauthorized addition to the design prescribed by statutes.

    Records of the Department of the Army indicate that fringe was used on the National flag as early as 1835 and its official use by the Army dates from 1895. There is no record of an Act of Congress or Executive Order which either prescribes or prohibits the addition of fringe, nor is there any indication that any symbolism was ever associated with it. The use of fringe is optional with the person or organization displaying the flag.

    A 1925 Attorney General’s Opinion (34 Op. Atty. Gen 483) states:

"The fringe does not appear to be regarded as an integral part of the flag, and its presence cannot be said to constitute an unauthorized additional to the design prescribed by statute. An external fringe is to be distinguished from letters, words, or emblematic designs printed or superimposed upon the body of the flag itself. Under the law, such additions might be open to objection as unauthorized; but the same is not necessarily true of the fringe."

    It is customary to place gold fringe on silken (rayon-silk-nylon) National flags that are carried in parades, used in official ceremonies, and displayed in offices, merely to enhance the beauty of the flag. The use of fringe is not restricted to the Federal Government. Such flags are used and displayed by our Armed Forces, veterans, civic and civilian organizations, and private individuals. However, it is the custom not to use fringe on flags displayed from stationary flagpoles and, traditionally, fringe has not been used on internment flags.

[Army Air Corps]

Don't worry. I did not think that it was you who had drafted this. My comment was more of a general statement. Don't sweat it, mate.

[506trooper]

The gold trim is found on ceremonial flags, to be used indoors and for ceremonies only. They originally were used on military flags. The fringe has no specific significance, but is considered completely within the guidelines of proper flag etiquette. There is nothing in the flag code indicating that the fringe is for federal government flags only. The Internet contains many sites that claim that the fringe indicates martial law or that the Constitution does not apply in that area. These are entirely unfounded (usually citing Executive Order 10834 and inventing text that is not part of the order) and should be dismissed as urban legends. more here and here

[DBrow]

I have not yet seen this addressed on FR

.........................

A while back there was a FReeper named Michael Rivero who had lots and lots to say about Admiralty Flags, among other things.

It's been discussed a lot and most feel that it is a decorative flag, while to others it is a symbol of some sort of conspiracy to steal our constitutionally regulated judicial system and replace it with something else.

As a conspiracy theory it's one of the more fun ones, there is lots of good stuff to read and it does not carry the kook stigma that "grassy knoll" does.

[derheimwill]

Our official courts today are all operating under admiralty jurisdiction, except the court of Claims in Washington D.C.

Is there any proof that this is the only court without a fringed flag?

[Army Air Corps]

Yup, I haven't seen this one in a long time. However, the Freemason related stories continue to surface often. Geez, there are entire sites dedicated to "exposing" the Freemason plots of the Founding Fathers. People will believe some of the weirdest crap/

[OKSooner]

The gold fringe means this:

Whomever is in charge at the place the gold-fringe flag is displayed has the authority to summon the black helicopters and have you hauled off to the secret prison colony in Louisiana, by way of Tax Court, never to be seen again.

Also, the same person in charge has access to the mine-shaft bomb shelters described in Dr. Strangelove. So do your best to stay on his good side.

[jim_trent]

Don't forget the significance of an eagle on the top of the flagpole.