← Military & Defence

Patriotic Ceremonies and Symbols

Images depict military personnel with the U.S. flag at ceremonies, honoring traditions and remembrance. Colors are strong and evoke a sense of patriotism.

Close up horizontal image of United States of America flag with armed male soldier holding it while on black background.
Close up horizontal image of United States of America flag with armed male soldier holding it while on black background.
158 assets in this story
1899-28779746
Lebanese soldiers, 70's
6145-54465115
A banner and picture of the first United States president decorate the bow of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) as guests converse prior to the vessel's christening ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding Company. As the sixth ship of its class, the GEORGE WASHINGTON represents the most technologically advanced Nimitz class carrier. Base: Newport News State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
6145-51892969
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Jason L. Morris, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, gives his opening remarks before a 5-kilometer fun run at MCRD San Diego, July 28, 2022. Marines on the depot got together for an afternoon of family fun, music, food, and a 5K run.
6145-44369019
Airman 1st Class Pedro Ayala, Keesler Honor Guard member, stands in front of a casket while preparing the American flag for presentation to a family member of the deceased during a training session June 26, 2013, at the Locker House, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
6145-54657530
Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Pima County, Arizona's border area with Mexico, where he joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for meetings, tours, flights, inspections
6145-44404792
PINEVILLE, La. - Friends and family members of Louisiana Army National Guard Soldiers with the 2228th Military Police Company, 773rd Military Police Battalion, of Pineville, La., anxiously await the arrival of approximately 160 Guardsmen from a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Governor Bobby Jindal and Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, LANG adjutant general, were on hand to welcome the Troops at a redeployment reception on Camp Beauregard in Pineville, March 6.
6145-54254001
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Tech Sgt. Luis Ortiz, an armament technician with 944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, shows off a Puerto Rican cultural flag Oct. 16, 2022 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to commemorate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States of Americas history and culture.
7220-71238415
USA, California, Los Angeles, this rally supports the troops
7002-69580939
Comfort, Texas, USA. Gun rights sign featuring a military style assault rifle. (Editorial Use Only)
6145-52920950
Visit of Secretary Gale Norton, members of the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission, and other dignitaries to the Flight 93 crash site, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Norton swore in the members of the Commission, planning the permanent memorial honoring passengers and crew of the planehijacked on September 11, 2001
6145-52182910
020704-F-3939J-014. Base: Camp Butmir State: Sarajevo Country: Bosnia And/I Herzegovina (BIH)
6145-54158088
Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June.
6145-52184090
020909-F-1424R-052. Base: Barksdale Air Force Base State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC
6145-54122651
The Oath of Office is projected on a screen behind an ROTC cadet as he takes the Oath at Clemson University. Clemson's Army and Air Force ROTC units held a joint ceremony to commission 33 second lieutenants into military service, May 11, 2022. Eighteen students received comissions into the Army, 14 into the Air Force, and one received a commission into the Space Force. After the ceremony the new officers recieved their first salutes during a Silver Dollar Salute ceremony in Military Heritage Plaza. (Photo by Ken Scar)
6145-52213295
040515-F-3820W-001. Base: Vandenberg Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AFSPC
6145-44381976
Members of the D. C. National Guard support local law enforcement agencies in traffic control and crowd management during the Womens March Jan. 21, 2017. More than 150,000 participants from across the nation are expected at the event. (National Guard
7003-69689129
USA, Virginia, Richmond, The Museum of the Confederacy
6177-V53816904
6145-54257543
A retired Marine pays his respects during the opening ceremony of the 39th Beirut Memorial Run at the Beirut Memorial in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Oct. 21, 2022. This event is held in honor of the 241 service members killed in the Beirut bombing in 1983.
6145-44375797
Flames leap dramatically into the air in front of the 49 Soldiers assigned to 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division who chose to re-enlist, April 9.
6145-54133613
The paintjob on the 2021 Harley Davidson Road Glide Special owned by Staff Sgt. Joseph Kahl, a drill sergeant with the 120th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception) reflects the sunlight during the Bike and Trike Show June 4.
6145-44847098
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kelvin Manning, associate director for Business Operations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, contributes stitches to the "National 9/11 Flag" during a ceremony in the Debus Conference Facility at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The contributions of NASA, Kennedy Space Center and the state of Florida were stitched into the fabric of the American Flag, which was recovered near ground zero following the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.The "New York Says Thank You Foundation" is taking the flag on a cross-country journey to be restored to its original 13-stripe design using pieces of fabric from American flags destined for retirement in all 50 states. Once the flag is restored, it will become a permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center site.
6145-52130400
DF-ST-86-03852. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)
1589R-14007553
Soldier and father sitting on front stoop texting on cell phone
5514-68351651
Demonstration in support of Iraq War
6145-54090210
The Leavenworth Veterans Day parade is the oldest Veterans Day observance in the nation and the largest parade west of the Mississippi.
6145-50617344
Pfc. Carlos Chicas, 729th Quartermaster Composite Supply Company, Maryland Army National Guard, embraces a loved one after returning from an 11-month deployment, Nov. 17, 2020, at a parking lot across from the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Chicas and other members of the 729th QCSC were deployed in support of NATO operations in Europe performing supply and logistics missions.
6145-52170474
010920-F-5855M-002. Base: Yokota Air Base Country: Japan (JPN) Scene Major Command Shown: PACAF
6145-54202689
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Francisco Mejia, of the 129th Maintenance Group, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, holds onto a football-field sized American flag in the shape of the United States, Sept. 18, 2022, on the practice field next to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, during flag unfurling rehearsal before the San Francisco 49ers home opener football game against the Seattle Seahawks. Nine of the wings Airmen were spread out around the flag during pregame ceremonies to serve as point-persons and team leads for season ticket holders who also served on the flag unfurling detail.
6145-52249904
060131-N-2880M-028. Base: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)
6145-52206496
031118-F-2828D-616. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)
6145-54263454
NORFOLK (Sept. 9, 2022) Families and friends await to embrace their Sailors after the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) returned to Naval Station Norfolk from a regularly scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of theater security cooperation efforts and to defend U.S., allied and partner interests, Sept. 9, 2022. Bainbridge was deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.
6177-V53657016
6145-55901159
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts the annual POW/MIA recognition ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 16, 2022.
1899-18187868
NRA, National Rifle Association, sign promotes membership of NRA, Texas.
6145-54251340
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Oct. 13, 2022) - Families eagerly await their Sailors return as the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story after a deployment with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), Oct. 13. More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the Kearsarge ARG supported a wide range of interoperability opportunities and exercises across the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations increasing combat readiness and crisis response capabilities while strengthening relationships with both NATO Allies and partners.
6145-48901063
SANTA FE, N.M. -- Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, 75th Ranger Regiment Medal of Honor recipient, serves as the Grand Marshall to welcome home parade in Santa Fe, Aug. 1. This was Petrys the first visit to Santa Fe since receiving the Medal of Honor, July 12.
6145-54200951
A display in the Penn State Student Veteran Center features photos of Penn State graduates who were killed in action while serving in the U.S military since 9/11. At the far left of the display is Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan in 2005. (Pennsylvania National Guard photo by Brad Rhen)
6145-52227441
050222-N-4308O-105. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)
5514-68351667
Iraq War Media Coverage
6145-55860425
Airmen assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing perform a variety of exercises as part of the Murph Challenge at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, May 18, 2022. The Murph Challenge is a workout challenge honoring Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in action, June 28, 2005; it is comprised of a mile run, 100 pushups, 200 situps, 300 squats and another mile run while wearing a 20-pound vest.
6145-54132482
Around 100 riders from various chapters of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club honored the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers by visiting the Buffalo Soldier Monument at Ft. Leavenworth. The monument tour was sponsored by the Ft. Leavenworth chapter.
6145-44390275
EVERETT, Wash. (Oct. 31, 2013) Sailors cross the brow of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) for the last time after the ship's decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Everett. Ford was commissioned June 29, 1985, in Long Beach, Calif., and served the Navy and the nation for more than 28 years.
6145-58882829
Cameramen from local media outlets get into perfect position to capture the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony on President Millard Fillmore's grave, January 5 2024 at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo NY. This ceremony marks Fillmore's 224th birthday. Air National Guard
6145-54409973
Coast Guard Structures - Air Stations - New Orleans - 26-HK-95-50. AIRSTA NOLA-- modifed Air Group NOLA sign with number of lives saved signs. Hurricane Katrina
6145-52221182
04107-A-2511W-018. Base: Fort Campbell State: Kentucky (KY) Country: United States Of America (USA)
6145-54245286
A display of the Suicide Prevention Month declaration sits inside the dining hall at Tommy Bs lounge on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 6, 2022. The Suicide Awareness declaration signing is an event that allows Joint Base MDL leadership to sign their names into the declaration as an oath to promote suicide awareness, increase and enhance mental health, and continue to support suicide prevention towards the joint base community. September is Suicide Prevention month. This observance collaborates all mental health advocates on Joint Base MDL to raise awareness of suicide prevention to strengthen the mental health of the joint base community.
6145-52075135
Material from Vice Admiral Allen - Captain Atkin Overview - 26-HK-364-67. Hurricane Katrina
6145-54261193
Col. Vance M. Brunner was promoted to colonel during a ceremony on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Oct. 28. A native of Kailua, Hawaii, and graduate of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Brunner serves as the operations officer for the 20th CBRNE Command, the U.S. military's premier all hazards command. U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason
6145-54409441
Field Office Operations - 26-HK-79-14. CG Field Office ops--modified USCG Air GROUP New Orleans sign. Hurricane Katrina
6145-52073630
Material from Vice Admiral Allen - Principal Federal Official - 26-HK-370-3. File Unit includes photographs of Admrial Allen on CNN and Visits by Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton among others. Hurricane Katrina
1848-64943646
Map of California, Military Stamp, Round Design
5514-70690247
Scenes from the campus of Virginia Tech, sight of a shooting masacre that left 33 people dead
6145-55146966
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Shane Rabbiosi, 173rd Force Support Squadron personnel superintendent, listens to the safety brief during the David R. Kingsley Workout of the Day in Klamath Falls, Ore. June 23, 2022. The DRK WOD is a workout intended to share the story of Kingsley Fields namesake, Lt. David R. Kingsley, and sacrifice to remember his selfless actions on the day of his death 78 years ago on June 23, 1944.
4408-12401
Put the Pennant Beside the Flag, Merchant Marine
6145-54254952
II Marine Expeditionary Force Campaign poster, two of three of this series project. II Marine Expeditionary Force executes all-domain operations across the competition continuum in order to support combatant commander objectives to deter armed conflict, prevail over competitors, and when required, defeat adversaries. (U.S. Marine Corps Graphic by CWO4 Michael Kropiewnicki)
6145-51901336
SAN DIEGO (Sept. 30, 2022) - Friends and family welcome home Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) Sailors as the ship returns to San Diego upon completion of Pacific Partnership 2022. Having just completed its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multi-national humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership 2022 host nations included Vietnam, Palau, the Philippines and Solomon Islands. U.S. Service Members carried out the mission alongside partner nation representatives from Australia, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.
6145-54448383
DF-ST-89-01191. Base: Gunter Air Force Base State: Alabama (AL) Country: United States Of America (USA)