Printed, double-sided, single-ply polyester, 3×5 Gadsden flag. Designed by Christopher Gadsden, the Gadsden flag is also referred to as the 1st Marine Corps flag, as a result of Gadsden being one of the three-member Marine committee directed by congress in October of 1775 to raise five companies of Marines to outfit the Man-of-War “Alfred” and its sister ships. It is generally accepted by historians that Gadsden presented the flag to Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief of the Navy, and he flew it as his personal standard on the Alfred. The rattlesnake imagery during the American Revolution is likely attributed to the fact that the rattlesnake could not be found in any other part of the world except North America and displayed unique courage that could be compared to the early American spirit. The rattlesnake never starts a fight and never surrenders once engaged. She never attacks without giving ample warning but strikes with deadly consequences. The snake depicted on the flag has 13 rattles, representing the unity of the 13 colonies. One rattle by itself is incapable of producing a sound, but all 13 together would strike fear in the heart of the boldest of men. The Gadsden flag as well as other American revolutionary war era symbolism has recently been revived to represent grassroots American resistance to the ever-increasing size of government and its overreach.
Single-ply polyester is a very lightweight material that will fly nicely in the slightest breeze. The lettering reads correctly from both sides.
- Two solid pieces of printed, hemmed fabric, sewn together back to back
- Bright colors
- Heavy canvas header with brass grommets
- 4 rows of stitching on the fly end to prevent premature fraying
- Flag size 3’x5′
