from The Barefoot World
We the People of the United States,
actually have two national flags, a military flag and a civil flag for peacetime.
They have several important distinctions and meanings.
Almost all Americans think of the Stars and Stripes “Old Glory” as their only flag.
EXCERPTS
The Stars and Stripes originated as a result of a resolution adopted by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777, for use on military installations, on ships, and in battle, directing that a U.S. flag consist of 13 stripes, alternating red and white; that a union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation. . .
Although intended just for Customs house usage, the new Civil Flag became adopted by both customhouses and merchants, and others who could afford them, to show their civilian nature and not under military control. The practice of using the Customs Flag as a Civil Flag became encoded in law in 1874 when Treasury Secretary William. A. Richardson required all customhouses to display the Civil Flag. . . . Read Complete Report
from youtube
The Civil Peacetime Flag of The United States of America
Uploaded by therealjarett on Feb 7, 2011
Note: There is no historical “proof” that the US Civil Flag was ever used as an official US flag. However, it is still supported and flown by people today wishing to support a message of sovereignty and peace. Many people believe the flag is real, and even though historical documentation does not exist, the meaning and symbolism of the flag is still valid.