Flag of South Carolina

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The flag of South Carolina is believed to have been originally designed in 1775 for use by South Carolina, USA, troops during the American Revolutionary War and borrowed the blue from the militia's uniforms and a crescent from the emblem on their caps. However, elements that compose the current flag were seen in as far back as 1765, in a banner used by South Carolina protesters of the Stamp Act.

Image:FortMoultrieFlag.jpg

The current version was adopted on 28 January 1861 as the "national" flag of the newly seceded state. The only change was the addition of the palmetto tree, which represents the defense of Fort Moultrie (constructed of palmetto logs) on Sullivan's Island from British attack in June 1776. The flag remained the official state flag after the end of the American Civil War.

The most misunderstood piece of symbolism on the South Carolina flag is its crescent, or what is sometimes referred to as the "New Moon". This emblem actually has nothing at all to do with a crescent moon. The crescent worn on the caps of the South Carolina revolutionary soldiers was a stylized criniere or gorget. Thus, both symbols on the state flag are emblems of defensive prowess.

South Carolina's flag was ranked as the 10th best flag in North America by the North American Vexillological Association in 2001.<ref>NAVA.org</ref>

[edit] Commercial Use

The flag of South Carolina is notable for being one of the most used state flags in fashion and other consumer products. Shirts, belts, shoes, wallets, and other accessories featuring the flag's Palmetto tree and crescent are popular throughout South Carolina and other Southeastern states.