The Protocol of Flags

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        The Protocol of Flags
                    Confederate Legion

Confederate Legionnaires! A sizeable number of our Legionnaires are Military Veterans and it is my prayer that even more will join our numbers. However, for the sake of those who are not veterans, and as a clarification for all of us, I'd like to point to the below Legion Military Ranks and Unit Size, posted on our website.

Log onboard the below URL then scroll down the page to where you read 'Confederate Legion Unit and Rank Structure' which has a hyperlink attached. Click, then after the page focuses in, scroll down to where you see a chart titled 'Unit Size' and notice it describes the Officer Rank in relationship to the standard number of troops commanded.

Unit Ranks Structure
http://www.confederatelegion.com/Legion%20Military%20Ranks.rtf

We have not commissioned many Brigadier Generals up until now, I don't believe; however, their numbers will increase once we muster Commands as large as a Brigade {4,500}. However this chart also correlates with what type, and how many flags our Confederate Legion columns will carry in a parade.

Commands the size of a Company, Battalion and Regiment need not carry every single Confederate Flag; they would normally carry the Third National {Blood Stained Banner and Confederate Battle Flag.  On the next level, the Brigade level, you might add the State Flag {if you wish, but please no politically correct flags}. Georgia for example would fly what has been called the 'True George State Flag!'

At the Brigade level {4,500 troops} there is a Brigadier General in Command and the First National, Navy Jack, Battle Flag and a State or Brigade Flag would be carried; no fringed edges. On the Division level {15,000 troops} the flags would be Third National, Navy Jack, Battle Flag, Confederate Legion Flag and Chaplains Flag, plus the State Flag {if you wish}, again no fringed edges.

However, once we reach the Corps level {30,000 troops} and have a Lieutenant General in Command, all of our flags are flown at a higher standard, and they'd have fringed edges. Confederate Legion and Chaplains Flag would have white-fringed edges, the Third National, Navy Jack and Battle Flag would have gold fringes.

We now reach the level of {100,000 troops} and we have a full General in Command, this is the minimal number to be considered a full-fledged army, based solely upon organization and rank. At the full army level, like the Corps level, all of the Flags have Fringed edges, Confederate Legion and Chaplain Flags {white fringes}, Third National, Navy Jack and Battle Flag {gold fringes}.

One reminder as far as unit size and rank; a Full Army of {100,000} does not refer the total number of Legion members, rather it means having a Full Army of {100,000} located in a single State and under a single command. When these types of numbers are reached, the Confederate Legion will no doubt have reached a total of 1,000,000 or more members and the Chief of Staff would be a Full General in rank.

But there is more, at the {100,000} level the Third National, Navy Jack and Battle Flag would not only have fringed edges, but thirteen Battle Streamers; we are not getting technical here, but the Confederate Legion will use streamers will be added in memory of the 13 original Confederate States, which fought the War for Confederate Independence, and in whose memory we march.

We should not get overly concerned for now, it will take time and money to put all this together, but we will make it all work, one piece at a time. Also we must remember, our Color Guards will need flag holsters, decorative poles, etc. which should be at a minimum white for our Confederate Legion and Chaplains Flags and black holsters for the others.

Lastly, regarding the ornaments at the top of a flag pole, only the Navy Jack and Battle Flag bear a spear, the Third Nation displays a ball {the eagle symbolizes the empire} the Chaplains Flag naturally displays a Christian Cross.

God save the Confederacy

Thomas E. Guinn
Founder
Confederate Legion
founder@confederatelegion.com
http://www.confederatelegion.com