U.S. Army Geneva Convention Ambulance Flag.
This is a US Army International Red Cross (IRC) ambulance flag. As a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, the United States of America is entitled to display the Geneva Convention flags from military general hospitals, field hospitals, ambulances and hospital ships.
The Geneva Conventions are made up of four treaties and refer to the standards of the law for the humane treatment of people who have fallen victim to war. The first treaty was created in 1864, followed by the second in 1906 and the third in 1929, which were finally joined by the fourth and last treaty a few years after the end of WWII.
The fourth treaty was established in 1949 and it outlined the wartime rights of prisoners (both military and civilian), recognized the type and extent of protection that should be provided to civilians who get caught up in or who live close to a war zone and it also summarized the level of protection that should be offered to any wounded personnel.
This flag was made at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot and was used in WWII, circa 1944. The Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot was originally opened in 1800 and was called The Schuylkill Arsenal until 1926. It was famous for making flags and clothes for the military and the site is now a popular tourist attraction and has even been named on the National Register of Historic Places. It is framed and the red cross in the center of the flag is slightly faded but is still, somewhat remarkably, intact as a cross shape.
This well worn flag was prescribed specifically for use by military ambulances during WWII. The left-hand side of the flag is in good condition while the right-hand side (where the flag would have been in constant contact with the elements) is torn.
