How the Color Red Came to Represent Valor on the US Flag

The article explores the historical evolution of red as a symbol of valor on the United States flag, tracing its origins to 18th-century European heraldry and early American military traditions. It highlights how the Continental Congress’s decisions and the Revolutionary War experiences shaped the enduring association of red with courage and sacrifice. This nuanced journey reveals the layers of meaning behind a color often taken for granted, inviting further reflection on the flag’s symbolism.

The use of red to symbolize valor on the United States flag traces back to the Continental Congress’s adoption of the Grand Union Flag in 1775 and the subsequent 1777 Flag Resolution, which specified red stripes alongside white and blue. This choice was rooted in longstanding European heraldic traditions, where red commonly denoted courage and sacrifice in battle. The Continental Army’s battle-hardened experience during the Revolutionary War further cemented red as a representation of the bloodshed and bravery required to secure American independence, embedding the color deeply within the nation’s emerging iconography.

The Origin of Official Color Symbolism in the Great Seal

Contrary to popular belief, the 1777 Flag Resolution did not assign specific symbolic meanings to the colors red, white, and blue on the American flag. While this resolution established the design of thirteen alternating red and white stripes and a union of white stars on a blue field, it omitted any official explanation of what each color represented. The first authoritative source linking the color red with valor emerged five years later, in the description of the Great Seal of the United States adopted by Congress on June 20, 1782. This description, drafted by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, explicitly defined red as symbolizing “hardiness & valour.”

The first authoritative source linking the color red with valor emerged five years later, in the description of the Great Seal of the United States adopted by Congress on June 20, 1782.

Thomson’s description stated that “the colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America,” thereby directly connecting the colors on the flag to the Great Seal’s symbolism. This formalization provided the foundational interpretation that red represented courage and bravery, embedding the color’s meaning within the official iconography of the new nation. The Great Seal’s description thus serves as the earliest documented source for the color red representing valor on the US flag.

Charles Thomson: Architect of the Flag’s Symbolic Meaning

Charles Thomson played a pivotal role in defining the symbolic meaning of the flag’s colors. Serving as Secretary of the Continental Congress, Thomson was responsible for the final wording that accompanied the Great Seal, which became the primary historical source for the flag’s color symbolism. His carefully chosen language connected red to “hardiness & valour,” white to “purity and innocence,” and blue to “vigilance, perseverance, and justice.”

Thomson’s explanation has endured as the authoritative interpretation cited in official documents and educational materials. His articulation established not only the color red’s association with valor but also framed the broader palette of colors on the flag within a context of moral and civic virtues. The continued reliance on Thomson’s 1782 description underscores his centrality to the narrative of the color red representing valor on the US flag.

The 1777 Flag Resolution and the Subsequent Formalization of Symbolism

The 1777 Flag Resolution was a foundational moment in American history, setting the visual design of the flag that would come to symbolize the nation. However, this resolution focused exclusively on the flag’s physical characteristics, specifying thirteen stripes alternating red and white and a canton featuring thirteen white stars on a blue field. Notably, it did not articulate any symbolic meaning for these colors.

This absence of color symbolism in the 1777 resolution explains why the later Great Seal description gained significance in shaping public and official understanding of the flag’s colors. By 1782, through Thomson’s efforts, red became formally associated with valor and hardiness, a meaning that has since been embraced by federal government sources and public education. The interpretation of red as a symbol of courage and sacrifice thus emerged from subsequent reflections and codifications rather than the initial flag legislation, illustrating the evolving nature of American national symbolism.