The flag of the Green Mountain Boys began as a regimental flag used by the Green Mountain Boys

Green Mountain Boys

The Green Mountain Boys were a militia organization first established in the 1760s in the territory between the British provinces of New York and New Hampshire, known as the New Hampshire Grants...

. A remnant of a Green Mountain Boys flag, believed to belong to John Stark

John Stark

John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...

, is owned by the Bennington Museum. It still exists as one of the few regimental flags from the American Revolution. Although Stark was at the Battle of Bennington

Battle of Bennington

The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake Bennington, Vermont...

 and likely flew this flag, the battle has become more commonly associated with the Bennington flag

Bennington flag

The Bennington flag is a version of the American flag associated with the American Revolution Battle of Bennington, from which it derives its name....

, which is believed to be a 19th century banner.

Today the flag is used as the regimental flag of Vermont's national guard unit. The regimental flag, known also as a "battle flag" or war flag

War flag

A war flag is a variant of a national flag for use by the nation's military forces on land. The nautical equivalent is a naval ensign — the battle ensign...

, accompanies the unit on battle assignments and is physically handed to the commander of the regiment, as described by former Vermont National Guard

Vermont National Guard

The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Green Mountain Boys, despite the inclusion of women in both branches since the mid-twentieth century. Flag of the Green Mountain Boys as their banner...

 Adjutant General Martha Rainville

Martha Rainville

Martha Rainville is a former Vermont National Guard Adjutant General, and retired Air Force Major General. In 2006 she ran as the Republican candidate for Vermont's at-large congressional district...

in an interview.

Design

The flag has a green field and, in an azure canton, a constellation of thirteen five-pointed white stars arranged in a natural pattern.

Notations

• Van de Water, Frederic Franklyn The Reluctant Republic: Vermont 1724–1791. The Countryman Press: 1974. ISBN 0-914378-02-3.