What Do Thin Line Flags Mean?

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:

Flag	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.

Visit our FAQ page for Flag Etiquette tips, how-to's, and flag information.

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What Do Thin Line Flags Mean?

Flag

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