American flag with red green and blue stripe

Enjoy 4 separate designs with this offering. All are full, detailed, shaded color. To make it easier, four separate files will be given to you to download once purchased. If you’re looking to purchase one separately, they are each listed individually as well.

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Popularized by the eye-catching black and white American flag with a thin blue line running across it, thin line flags are a beautiful way to support the everyday heroes in your community. The colored stripe symbolizes the thin line between the public and the danger they hold at bay.

Although the "thin line" phrase was originally coined in the 1880s signifying the red color of the British Army uniforms. The first use of the thin blue line was used in 1911 in a poem by Nels Dickmann Anderson referring to the United States Army.

In the 1950s, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Bill Parker coined the term “thin blue line” as the barrier between law and order, and social and civil anarchy. By the early 1970s, the term had spread to police departments across the U.S. Use of the term became especially widespread following the release of Errol Morris’s 1988 documentary, “The Thin Blue Line.”

In addition to the police, eight other public service branches have adopted thin line colors of their own, including the thin red line flag of the fire department. Flying a thin line flag shows support for the associated service branch, noted below:

Color

Service Branch It Honors

Thin Blue Line

Law Enforcement

Thin Red Line

Firefighters, Fire Service

Thin Green Line

Military, Federal agents, Park Rangers,
Wildlife Officers, Border Patrol

Thin Gold Line

Dispatchers
(also seen used as bright yellow)

Thin Yellow Line

Dispatchers, Tow Truck Drivers

Thin Orange Line

Search and Rescue, EMT Personnel

Thin Purple Line

Security Guards, Security Personnel (2020)
Previously Politicians Who Experienced Violence

Thin Silver Line

Corrections Officers

Thin White Line

Emergency Medical Services

Our blue and red thin line flags are designed in two different ways: a black and white American flag with a single colored stripe; or as a pure black flag with a single, slightly wider colored stripe. Flag and Banner is proud to offer both thin line flag designs. The black and white American thin line flag is available custom made with other color choices.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

What is the American flag with the red and blue stripe?

What does the green and red American flag mean?

What does an American flag with a blue stripe mean?

What is the meaning of a black and white American flag with a green stripe?