The symbolic meaning of this thin blue line is representative of all law enforcement officers. The Thin Blue Line flag is a field of black background separated by a thin blue line. Displaying the flag in any forum demonstrates support to our law officers for their thankless efforts in keeping the peace across our great nation. Just as the American flag pays tribute to the American people and the country's sacrifices to gain independence the flag containing the Thin Blue Line pays homage to our law enforcement. The Thin Blue Line is a small token to remind us that the presence of law enforcement is to bring forth peace and diminish hostility and violence. They risk their lives daily upon the streets of America. Ronald Reagan once said, 'Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.'Ībove the blue line represents the 'good' spoken in Reagan's quote, while below the line represents the 'evil.' The law enforcement brothers and sisters in the United States make Ronald Reagan's quote a reality, and the Thin Blue Line represents their constant bravery. The Thin Blue Line embodies the unbreakable component of law enforcement standing as a safety barrier between the law-abiding citizens of America and the criminally inclined. The Thin Blue Line emblem was established to symbolize all law enforcement personnel similar to the Red Cross symbol representing all medical personnel. In the 1950s, the blue line was adopted by law enforcement professionals to represent their courage and sacrifice while protecting the American people. The phrase 'Thin Blue Line' was initially mentioned in a 1911 poem by Nels Dickmann Anderson. Together, standing alongside, the soldiers formed a blue line, thus beginning the history we know today as the Thin Blue Line.

The first appearance of the Thin Blue Line dates back to the early 1900s when The United States Army marched into battle in their blue uniforms. What is the Thin Blue Line? The phrase is borrowed from a military image of the 19th century, in which a 'thin red line' of British troops ('redcoats') held off a Russian cavalry charge during the Crimean war. While the roots of the thin blue line trace its origins to the United Kingdom, it has grown in popularity here in the United States as a recognition of the commitment of law enforcement as protectors of our communities. A question we are often asked and worth some explanation.

Blue and black flag