The Stars and Stripes and Other American Flags - Including Their Origin and History, Army and Navy Regulations Concerning the National Standard and Ensign, Flag Making, Salutes, Improvised, Unique, and Combination Flags, Flag Legislati... #234293

With a few exceptions, the Stars and Stripes is the Oldest national standard and ensign in the world. That Of Denmark, a red swallow-tailed flag with a white cross, the colors Of Savoy, which was adopted in the year 1219, is the Oldest European national standard and ensign. The second in order Of age among the nations Of Europe is the flag Of Switzerland, a red field with a white Greek cross, which was adopted during the seventeenth century. The flag Of the Red Cross Association Of Geneva interchanges the colors Of the Swiss flag. Peter the Great established the Order of St. Andrew in 1698, and the symbol Of the patron saint of the Russians, an X-like cross Of blue, has been placed upon a great variety Of Official flags.