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Secret Service (U.S.)

image by Joe McMillan, 14 May 2003

Description of flag

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Description of flag

I found at www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/imagearchive a photograph of a Marine receiving an award from the US Secret Service for actions following the 9-11 attack. In the background is a flag that may be that of the Secret Service. It's blue (a shade or two lighter than the canton of the S&S) with a white area, possibly a lozenge, bearing what appears to be the star emblem of the Secret Service in black, white, and blue. This emblem can be seen in full color at www.treas.gov/usss/index.shtml.

Although best known for its work protecting the President and other high officials of the US government, the Secret Service's original mission when it was formed in 1865 was suppressing counterfeiting. It still does that, as well as enforcing related laws concerning U.S. securities, coinage, other government financial issues, credit and debit card fraud, and electronic funds transfer fraud. That's why it's been part of the Department of the Treasury since its creation, although it will move to the new Department of Homeland Security in a few months.

Looking at the high-resolution JPEG linked from the page, you can indeed read the word "SECRET" in silver letters on a blue circlet surrounding the center of the star, but the details of the design appear different from that shown on the USSS site. Also, the field of the flag looks more like it's diagonally divided, LH to UF, white over blue, rather than blue with a white lozenge. Hard to tell against the blue curtain in the background.
Joe McMillan, 3 December 2002

The flag can also be seen at www.treas.gov/usss/images/ccfraud.jpg. It is yellow over blue, white a triangular white section at the hoist, bearing the USSS star in blue.
Dave Fowler, 3 December 2002

The Secret Service, now part of the Department of Homeland Security, was created in the Department of the Treasury in 1865 to enforce laws against counterfeiting. It was later given its more widely known duty of providing protection for the President of the United States and other top officials. According to its official website, www.secretservice.gov, "The United States Secret Service is mandated by the U.S. Congress to carry out two distinct and significant missions: protection and criminal investigations. The Secret Service is responsible for: the protection of the President, the Vice President, and their families, heads of state, and other designated individuals; the investigation of threats against these protectees; protection of the White House, Vice President's Residence, Foreign Missions, and other buildings within Washington, D.C.; and security design, planning, and implementation at designated National Special Security Events. The Secret Service is also responsible for the enforcement of laws relating to counterfeiting of obligations and securities of the United States, investigation of financial crimes including, but not limited to access device fraud, financial institution fraud, identity theft, computer fraud, telecommunications fraud, and computer based attacks on our nation's financial, banking, and telecommunications infrastructure."

The flag is divided horizontally yellow over blue, with a white triangle at the hoist bearing a representation of the old Secret Service badge in gray and blue. This badge is an ornate five-pointed star with the monogram US on the center and the name of the service above and below the central area of the star.
Joe McMillan, 14 May 2003

The flag flies at the Secret Service headquarters. It is also flown at various presidential retreats, such as Camp David, the "Western" White House in Crawford, Texas, and the Bush family compound at Kennebunkport, Maine.
Sean McKinniss, 15 May 2003

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