Editing United States Coast Guard (section)

===Coast Guard ensign===
[[File:Ensign of the United States Coast Guard.svg|thumb|Ensign of the United States Coast Guard]]
[[File:Ensign of the United States Coast Guard (1915-1953).png|thumb|Former Coast Guard ensign, used from 1915 to 1953]]

The Coast Guard [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]] (flag) was first flown by the [[Revenue Cutter Service]] in 1799 to distinguish revenue cutters from merchant ships. A 1 August 1799 order issued by Secretary of the Treasury [[Oliver Wolcott Jr.]] specified that the Ensign would be "sixteen perpendicular stripes (for the number of states in the United States at the time), alternate red and white, the union of the ensign to be the arms of the United States in a dark blue on a white field."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Coast_Guard_Flags.asp |title=U.S. Coast Guard Flags |website=Coast Guard Historian's Office |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=21 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620095732/http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Coast_Guard_Flags.asp |archive-date=20 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

This ensign became familiar in American waters and served as the sign of authority for the Revenue Cutter Service until the early 20th century. The ensign was originally intended to be flown only on revenue cutters and boats connected with the Customs Service but over the years it was found flying atop custom houses as well, and the practice became a requirement in 1874. On 7 June 1910, President [[William Howard Taft]] issued an executive order adding an emblem to (or "[[Defacement (flag)|defacing]]") the ensign flown by the Revenue cutters to distinguish it from what is now called the [[:File:Flag of the United States Customs Service.svg|Customs Ensign]] flown from the custom houses. The emblem was changed to the official seal of the Coast Guard in 1927.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Traditions.asp |title=The Coast Guard Ensign |website=Coast Guard Historian's Office |access-date=15 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621093322/http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Traditions.asp |archive-date=21 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbp.gov/custoday/jan2000/tradtn.htm |title=Tradition, Service, Honor: The Customs Ensign |first=Anne |last=Saba |website=U.S. Customs Today |date=January 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023181113/http://www.cbp.gov/custoday/jan2000/tradtn.htm |archive-date=23 October 2011 }}</ref>

The purpose of the ensign is to allow ship captains to easily recognize those vessels having legal authority to stop and board them. It is flown only as a symbol of law enforcement authority and is never carried as a parade standard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Coast_Guard_Flags.asp |title=U.S. Coast Guard Flags |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=26 February 2015 |quote=As it was intended in 1799, the ensign is displayed as a mark of authority for boardings, examinations and seizures of vessels for the purpose of enforcing the laws of the United States. The ensign is never carried as a parade or ceremony standard. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226191031/http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/Coast_Guard_Flags.asp |archive-date=26 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>