The “Thin Line” is a symbol used by first responders and their supporters to represent the barrier they form between order and chaos. Each emergency service branch is represented by a different color, often displayed as a colored stripe on a black-and-white American flag.
Common Thin Lines for first responders
| Color | Represents | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Thin Blue Line | Law Enforcement Officers | A tribute to police officers, symbolizing their role as the barrier between the public and chaos. The flag is also used to remember officers killed in the line of duty. |
| Thin Red Line | Firefighters | Represents the courage and sacrifice of firefighters who place themselves in harm’s way to protect lives and property. It honors fallen and injured firefighters. |
| Thin Gold Line | Emergency Dispatchers | Honors the critical role of emergency communications personnel, who are the first point of contact in emergencies. They are called the “golden glue” that holds emergency services together. |
| Thin White Line | Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel | Represents EMTs and paramedics and their efforts to save lives and provide care during medical emergencies. Some use the “Thin Orange Line” instead. |
| Thin Silver/Gray Line | Corrections Officers | A symbol of support for correctional officers, jailers, and other personnel who maintain order and safety within correctional facilities. |
| Thin Orange Line | Search and Rescue personnel | Acknowledges the dangers faced by Search and Rescue teams. It is also sometimes used for EMTs and paramedics. |
Origin: The concept traces back to the “Thin Red Line,” a phrase from the 1854 Crimean War describing a British regiment holding firm against a larger force. The “Thin Blue Line” for law enforcement was popularized in the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. Other services later adopted their own colors and lines.
The Thin Line represents the brave men and women who stand between order and chaos, safety and danger, life and loss. It symbolizes those who dedicate their lives to protecting, healing, and serving others—veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, nurses, and doctors. These individuals run toward the very challenges most people run from, often at the cost of their own well-being. Without them, our communities would lose their protectors, our hospitals their healers, and our nation its defenders. Supporting the Thin Line means honoring those who hold our society together through courage, sacrifice, and service. It’s about giving back to the people who give everything—because when they are cared for, they can continue to care for all of us.