Editing Campaign streamer

{{Short description|Streamers showing someone participated in a particular battle}}
{{Use Canadian English|date = April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{multiple issues|{{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=July 2010}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2009}}}}
[[File:Parade 1894.JPG|thumb|''Parade in [[Lustgarten]] 9 February 1894'' by [[Carl Röchling]]; ribbons can be seen attached to the flag in the center.]]
[[File:Raven banner (Bayeux Tapestry).jpg|thumb|The war streamer (''guþfana genumen''), also cited in the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' and nowadays known as [[raven banner]], which appears on the [[Bayeux Tapestry]].]]

'''Campaign streamers''' are decorations attached to [[military flag]]s to recognize particular achievements or events of a [[military unit]] or service. Attached to the headpiece of the assigned flag, the streamer often is an inscribed [[ribbon]] with the name and date denoting participation in a particular battle, [[military campaign]], or theater of war; the ribbon's colors are chosen accordingly and frequently match an associated [[campaign medal]] or [[ribbon bar]]. They often are physical manifestations of [[battle honour]]s, though this does not mean all streamers are battle honours (for example, gala or parade streamers not connected to a battle). They should not be confused with a [[tassel]], which is usually purely decorative in nature.

The armed forces of Germany, the United States and others have engaged in awarding streamers.  Historically Prussia, Austria-Hungary and the Soviet Union have also used streamers in this manner.

==United States==
[[File:USMC battle streamers MMH 2.JPG|thumb|Display of streamers from the [[flag of the United States Marine Corps]]]]
[[File:Display of Streamers, Figure 9-1, AR 840-10.png|thumb|Display of Streamers on US Army Flags, Colors and Guidons]]

===Background===
The [[United States Army]] established campaign streamers in 1920, the [[United States Marine Corps]] in 1939, the [[United States Air Force]] in 1956. The [[United States Coast Guard]] adopted battle streamers in 1968, with the [[United States Navy]] following suit in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE BATTLE STREAMERS|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/BattleStreamers.asp|website=Coast Guard History Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=United States Coast Guard|access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq45-1.htm |title=Navy battle streamers |access-date=21 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024184733/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq45-1.htm |archive-date=24 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Usage===
Many of the practices relative to streamers and their display are similar among the services. There are, however, differences, particularly regarding the number of streamers and use of embroidered devices. The Army carries a separate streamer for each important action in all wars in which that service has participated, each embroidered with the name of the action commemorated. Currently, the Army allows 190<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Campaign Streamers: Army|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/army_flag/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130626170507/http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/army_flag/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2013|publisher=United States Army|access-date=10 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Listing of the Campaigns of the U.S. Army Displayed on the Army Flag |url=https://history.army.mil/html/reference/campaigns.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201218035428/https://history.army.mil/html/reference/campaigns.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 December 2020 |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=history.army.mil}}</ref> streamers, and the Air Force, employing the Army system, carries more than 60. Unlike the Army–Air Force practice, the Marines and Navy use one ribbon for each war, campaign, or theater of operations. Specific actions or battles are highlighted by bronze and silver stars embroidered on the ribbon. The Marine Corps has 57 streamers,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Information-for-Units/Battle-Colors-Of-The-Marine-Corps/Streamers-of-the-Marine-Corps-Battle-Colors/Battle-Streamers-graphics/ |title=Streamers of the Marine Corps Battle Colors &#124; Marine Corps University |access-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214142921/https://www.usmcu.edu/historydivision/streamers-marine-corps-battle-colors |archive-date=14 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.usmcu.edu/historydivision/battle-streamers-graphics] {{dead link|date=September 2018}}</ref> the Navy 36, and the Coast Guard uses 43, unadorned by either stars or lettering. Stars on the Marines and Navy streamers follow the practice initiated during the World War II period for ribbons and medals—that is, a bronze [[service star]] for each action, and a silver star in lieu of five bronze stars. The Navy applies stars to appropriate ribbons throughout its history, whereas the Marine Corps uses stars to commemorate service starting from 1900. The Navy's [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]], [[Navy Unit Commendation]], and [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] streamers each carry a red number rather than stars, representing the number of times that the respective award has been conferred upon Navy units.

===Appearance===
Streamers tend to have a flat end,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/24746/new_campaign_streamers_available_now_for_unit_flags|title=New campaign streamers available now for unit flags|website=Army.mil|date=22 July 2009 |access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guidonsandmore.com/mcs-irq.html|title=ARMY/USAF Campaign Streamer (Iraq Campaign )|website=Guidonsandmore.com}}</ref> with writing, with the sole exception being those of the USMC, whose streamers usually have a pointed end with no writing.<ref name=USMCstreamers/> The fly end of the streamer usually has a swallowtail.

====Size====
Streamers' sizes vary based upon the military branch that uses them and the size of the flag that they are attached to. Generally they are {{convert|3|ft|m}} long and {{convert|2.75|in|cm}} wide; the USMC's streamers are {{convert|2.75|in|cm}} wide and either {{convert|36|in|ft}} or {{convert|48|in|ft}} long.<ref name=USMCstreamers>{{cite web|url=http://www.guidonsandmore.com/umacost.html|title=USMC Award Streamers Marine Corps Battle Streamers|website=Guidonsandmore.com}}</ref>
 
====Colors====
Where a medal has been awarded for a particular war or service, the coloring and design of the streamer are the same as the ribbon from which the medal is suspended. Conflicts and operations for which no medal was issued have ribbons specially designed for use as streamers.

=== 2023 Decision Regarding Confederate Battle Honors ===
On 16 March 2023 US Southern States [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard]] units that had [[American Civil War|Civil War]] Battle Honors ([[Confederate States of America|Confederate]]) were ordered to remove those battle streamers from their battalion flag staffs.<ref>{{cite web |first=Steve|last=Beynon|title=These Southern National Guard Units to Toss Confederate Battle Streamers|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/03/16/these-southern-national-guard-units-toss-confederate-battle-streamers.html|work=Military.com|date=16 March 2023|access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces]]
* [[Campaign streamers of the American Revolutionary War]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External articles==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20240922223321/https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryList.aspx?CategoryId=19&grp=2&menu=Uniformed+Services U.S. Army campaign streamers]
*[http://tmg110.tripod.com/usnst.htm U.S. Navy campaign streamers]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060515203351/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Customes_Traditions/Streamers.htm U.S. Marine Corps campaign streamers]
*[http://tmg110.tripod.com/usaf.htm U.S. Air Force campaign streamers]
*[http://www.uscg.mil/history/FAQS/BattleStreamers.asp  U.S. Coast Guard campaign streamers]
{{Orders and phaleristics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Campaign Streamer}}
[[Category:Vexillology]]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of the United States]]