![]() Click to view the blog! After a lot of careful thought, it was decided to move our blog to our Facebook site. This should be a great improvement and allow me to post more information more often - and a lot easier! It will also enable me to reach more people and make it easier for them to comment and share items with the rest of the group. I'm excited about the move and expect great things. So, what does this mean? Well, if you have a Facebook page it is very easy - you just "like" us and you are done. Then when we post something, it will show up on your page. You can "unlike" us at any time and even limit the amount of posts that are visible on your page. You can also comment on our posts and share items back with me. If you don't have a Facebook page, no problem. There is not a requirement for you to sign up with Facebook or anything. Our Facebook page is open to the public to read at anytime through your regular internet browser.
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![]() In 1492 when Columbus "sailed the ocean blue", this is one of the flags he flew on his three ships. The "F" stands for King Fernando and the "Y" for Queen Ysabel. There is a bit of debate on what it actually looked like and the shape - as well as which ships flew it. More information on the flag can be found here. By the way, the three ships Columbus used included his flag ship "Santa Maria" and two smaller vessels. "La Nina" is Spanish for "The Girl" but it was a nickname. The real name of the ship was "Santa Clara". "La Pinta" means "painted one" or "spotted one" but its real name has been lost to history. There are a few replica ships out there but these are probably the most accurate. They are currently in Marietta, OH; a state with its capital in Columbus. Columbus has a replica of the "Santa Maria" but she does not sail. Looking at the flags of the major states and territories of Australia, you notice that one stands out: the flag of Northern Territory. The first flag shown here is that of Australia itself and the rest of the states are very similar. They have the British Jack in the canton and the field is blue. What happened when it came time to design the flag for the Northern Territory? Did they not get the memo? Well, their flag was designed as recently as 1978. The rest of the states were independent British colonies and had their own flag as such. Northern Territory never was a colony and never had their own flag. This problem was solved when the public was asked for designs. Ideas submitted were incorporated in Robert Ingpen's final design. Click on the flags above (including the Northern Territory's unique design) to learn more about each flag. It is important to note that several other territories and islands that are a part of Australia do have different flags. These include the Australian Capital Territory (where the capital Canberra is located), Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island.
One of the most interesting flags from the Revolutionary War is the flag made in Huntington, NY. Huntington is in Suffolk County on Long Island. The history of the flag and how it came to be made is a history of the time: from loyal subjects of the crown to rebels and patriots. The pdf below is a very good description of how the flag came to be. Of note is the style of the word "LIBERTY". I believe that the simple block style in this description is more accurate than what some companies are selling on their commercial versions. Those flags have the word "LIBERTY" in a very stylized form similar to "Times New Roman" and in italics. Unless those early people had a printer and MS Word, I doubt they would have gone through all the trouble of making such and intricate rendition of the word. More than likely, simple block lettering would have been cut out of white cloth and sewn on the red flag. Could the lettering have been painted? Then the words might have been fancy. No, I don't believe so and this is why - look at how the flag evolved. The original flag was a simple British Red Ensign. Then "LIBERTY" and "GEORGE III" was added to each side. When news of the Declaration of Independence reached Huntington, they removed the British canton and the "GEORGE III" from the flag. If the words had been painted they could not have removed the letters! They could have painted over the words with some red paint but evidence states that the cloth from the words and the canton was later burned. So, it makes more sense that the words were sewn on and therefore more than likely they sewed on simple block letters. Have you ever tired to cut out Times New Roman letters in italics? Not easy! But, if you disagree, feel free to put your comments below. I always like to hear from others on historical flags. In addition to CRW Flags (see link here), you can purchase flags from the Huntington Historical Society. I purchased a 2' x 3 ' flag from them and it is made very well. Also, the flag reads "LIBERTY" on only one side (flag is double sided), which is more historic than silk screening "LIBERTY" directly through the flag. Here is the link to purchase their flags. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress established the American Flag. It was a simple resolution made after declaring that the Marine Committee has control over war ships in the Delaware River and before declaring that Captain John Roach (commander of the RANGER) "is a person of doubtful character". The flag resolution was very vague: "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." This vagueness is what led to so many variations of U.S. Flags until Congress finally declared the official arrangements of stars and stripes in 1912. We will bring up some of these arrangements and some famous flags later on. For now, here is what the page from the Journal of the Continental Congress looked like for that day.
![]() On June 14, 1775, the American Army was organized and founded during the Revolution. However, the Army did not get its own flag until 1956 - the last of the 5 services! It was only after they needed a flag during joint services ceremonies. Individual Army organizations and units had flags for years but not the service as a whole. The picture of the flag you see here is the first flag made for the Army and dedicated at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. The flag is still in Philadelphia in the Military Museum as part of Independence NHP. Here is some good information about the flag. I'll post later on about the symbol on the Army flag and how there is a "violation" of the US Flag Code on their flag - its an interesting explanation!! Here is the actual resolution from June 14th. Here is some information and history of some of the flags flying in Old Town, San Diego. It is a good description of flags that flew or were seen in the Southern California area.
![]() Today on Memorial Day, we honor those who have given their lives so that we may live in peace and safety. Memorial Day is also a unique day in flag display. The National Flag is flown at half-mast (or half-staff) until 1200 noon and then raised to full staff. This is the only day that this is done. When half-masting the flag, the flag is first raised to full-staff, paused, and then lowered to about half way up the pole. Some traditions has the flag at about 1/3 down the pole or an "invisible flag of death" lower down the pole. The flag is usually not flown at half-mast on a ship underway and if flown on a flag pole with a cross bar, the lower part of the blue canton is even with the cross bar. At 1200 noon, the flag is then raised back to full-staff. Remember that when raising the flag, it is done briskly (but with respect) and when lowering, is done slowly. We posted a link to NTP 13 on our links page. This manual is published by the U.S. Navy to govern the display of all flags and pennants on naval ships and units. It is also used by the Coast Guard. Flag procedures are simply guidelines - not laws. The Flag Code is simply a code of respect for flying or displaying the U.S. Flag. There is nothing "illegal" about improper displaying the flag. We also posted a link to the Flag Code as well. Here is the regulation for half-masting the national ensign if the pole has a crosstree: NTP-13(B), page 8-1, section 801, b, 2 (2) Polemast with Crosstree - Flown at peak of pole. When at half-mast, the bottom of union portion shall be even with crosstree. If displayed with foreign ensign(s), the U.S. national ensign shall be displayed from the outermost halyard on right hand crosstree. ![]() May 22nd is National Maritime Day - the day we honor the American Merchant Marine. The day was established by Congress in 1933. The 22nd was picked as it was the day the U.S. merchant ship "Savannah" sailed from the U.S. to England. This was the first time a steamship crossed the Atlantic Ocean. (By the way, the first nuclear powered cargo-passenger merchant ship was also named the "Savannah".) In 1994 the Maritime Administration introduced this flag to honor the sailors who have defended the United States since the founding of our country. ![]() Today is National Peace Officer's Memorial Day, the day we remember those law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate price in defending our freedom and peace in our communities. Take some time to look over the Officer Down Memorial site. |
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