Rally Banner

A Rally Banner, also sometimes referred to as a Rallying Flag, was a tool used by soldiers during combat to help unite, inspire, and empower a specific faction. These banners generally consisted of a long pole with a piece of cloth attached to the end bearing an insignia, emblem, logo, or other recognizable pattern. They were commonly carried by dedicated bearers operating on the front lines in locations where they could be observed by other soldiers, though they were sometimes planted into the ground to remain stationary as well. They had noticeable benefits on the battlefield, often granting units a higher degree of cohesion or strength, and even sometimes providing a safe location for units to heal and regroup.

Clone trooper Airo created a makeshift rally banner during the Battle of Abrion Bridge around 22 BBY, allowing the Galactic Republic Navy overhead to observe the Grand Army of the Republic's movement and inspiring his fellow 212th Attack Battalion soldiers and Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi during their fight against the Separatist Droid Army, though he was ultimately killed during the conflict. Hunter and former Alliance officer Zaina of the Hunters of the Outer Rim also utilized a rallying flag during the competition in 9 ABY, beckoning her teammates near it where they would be coated by a thick cloud of healing bacta. Rally banners were used by almost every major galactic faction, including the Galactic Republic, the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Galactic Empire, the Alliance to Restore the Republic, the Resistance, and the First Order.

Text and facts from the “Rally Banner” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.