Flags of the Day

Today is Kalevala Day in Finland; Independence Day in Egypt; and Burgsonndeg in Luxemburg.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Wrong flag burned again

In this AP photo, Muslims in Kashmir burn what is supposed to be a "Danish" flag. It is actually the flag of England.

Flags of the Day

Today is Flag Day in Antigua and Barbuda; Independence Day in the Dominican Republic; and Republic Day in Western Sahara.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

52-star flag burned

The Pakisanis in this AP photo are burning a 52-star version of the US flag. The number of stars indicate that this is a home-made flag; although it is quite nicely done. The maker but much more pride in his work than most burners of home-made flags.

AP wrong on flag ID

The caption with this Associated Press photo of Pakistanis protesting Danish cartoons states that the men are standing on Danish flags. The flags in the photo are Norwegian.

Flags of the Day

Today is Liberation Day in Kuwait.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Bishop of Nashville

Monday, the Most Reverend David R. Choby will be ordained and installed as the new Bishop of Nashville. Bishop-elect Choby has been our pastor since we moved to Sumner County over 15 years ago, and he has been a pastor in every sense of the word. Pope Benedict XVI has blessed the Diocese of Nashville by giving this man to the diocese as Bishop. We, at St. John Vianney Church in Gallatin, are pleased and proud, but also a little sad about sharing our treasure with the rest of Middle Tennessee.

We had a great party for Father/Bishop-elect Choby last night. In the process, I learned the design of his new episcopal coat-of-arms. I am sure that a better version will be available soon, but in the mean-time, here is my inadequate rendition.

Cycling Vexillology

This cartoon is found on the blog of a cartoonist called kinkyturtle.

Flags of the Day

Today is Flag Day in Bangladesh and Peru; National Day in Kuwait; Coronado Day in Mexico; and People's Revolution Day in the Philippines.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Estonia; Liberation Day in Ghana; Vincennes Day in Indiana; and Flag Day in Mexico.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Brunei; Republic Day in Guyana; and Day of Defenders of the Motherland in Russia. It is also Iwojima Day in the United States; and the Memorial of St Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, martyr. On this date in 1861, the voters of Texas ratify the ordinance of secession adopted by the Texas Convention on February 4th; but the secession would not be official until March 2, 1861, the 15th anniversary of Texan independence from Mexico.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is the birthday of President George Washington. On this date in 1862, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated President of the Confederate States of America, completing the organization of the government under the permanent Constitution. Today is also Girl Guides Thinking Day in the British Commonwealth; Unity Day in Egypt and Syria; Mothers Day in India; and Independence Day in St. Lucia.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

South Carolina flag returns home after 150 years

A flag waived by South Carolina soldiers in the Mexican War has returned home more than 150 years after it flew alongside the Palmetto Regiment.

The flag apparently was stolen from the capitol in Columbia when it fell to Sherman's army in 1865. In 1889 it was given to the State of New York, where is it been until its recent return to South Carolina.

Flags of the Day

Today is Martyrs' Day in Bangladesh.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Tennessee's first state flag on exhibit at ETSU museum

The Tennessee State Museum's special exhibit on the Tennessee flag is now at the Carroll Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University.

The exhibit opened at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville last April, the centennary of the flag's adoption. The Nashville exhibit closed in October, and moved on to Knoxville, before the recent relocation to Johnson City, the home of Le Roy Reeves, the flag's designer.

Five storey high Canadian flag in Turin

It is easy to find the Canadian contingent at the Winter Olympics in Turin. Just look for the five-storey Canadian flag draped along the facade of one of three buildings they occupy.

"Our large Canadian flag is certainly the highlight here," said Nathalie Cook, Canadian Olympic Committee assistant press chief and tour guide. "You can see it for miles."

Flags of the Day

Today is the federal holiday for Washington's Birthday. It is also the Feast of St Eucherius.

The Washington's Birthday holiday is often refered to as "Presidents' Day". This is not correct. The law establishing federal holidays, 5 USC 6103(a), lists the third Monday in February as Washington's Birthday. There may be an observance of "Presidents' Day" in some states, but there is no such holiday for the United States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Congo has a new old flag again

In 1997 the government of Zaire was overthrown, the country's name was changed back to the Congo, and the flag used by the Republic of the Congo from 1960-1963 flew again as the national flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1973 the flag was changed, only to be replaced by the flag of the Republic of Zaire in 1971.

As I said, the overthrow of Zaire resulted in the resurrection of the 1960 flag of the Congo. Yesterday, a new consitution for the Congo went into effect, and with it the flag again changed. No, a new flag was not adopted. The 1960-63 flag, which flew again from 1997 to 2006, has been replaced with the flag of 1963-1971, shown in the above Reuters photo of yesterday's ceremonies in Kinshasa.

Got that?

Flags of the Day

Today is Martyrs Day in Ethiopia; Constitution Day in Gabon; Army Day in Mexico; and Flag Day in the Netherlands and Turkmenistan.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Socialists selling flag-burning kits

A socialist youth organisation in Australia wants university students flag-burning kits next week. The kits, containing an Australian flag, a lighter, a fire-lighting cube and socialist pamphlets, will be sold at university orientation week for $5 each.

Numerous groups and individuals in Australia in recent months have called for the punishment of flag burning. Prime Minister John Howard, however, has resisted such efforts, saying:

"I don't believe you should have a law making it a criminal offence to burn the Australian flag - much in all as I love and revere that flag,"

Flags of the Day

On this day in 1861, Jefferson F. Davis of Mississippi was inaugurated President of the provisional government of the Confederate States of America; and King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia became the first king of Italy. Today is Independence Day in Gambia; National Bun Day in Iceland; Mothers Day in Israel; and Constitution Day in Nepal. It is also the Commemoration of St Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, martyr.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Original Maple Leaf flag back on display on Parliament Hill

A lost piece of Canadian history ? the original Maple Leaf flag ? is back on display on Parliament Hill after 40 years.

There was a good story about the adoption and first hoisting of the Canadian flag in yesterday's Toronto Star.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Lithuania; and the Commemoration of Commemoration of St Gregory X.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Flag Day in Canada; and the Commemoration of Sts Faustinus & Jovita, martyrs.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Statehood Day in Arizona and Oregon; and the Commemoration of St. Valentine.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Peaceful protest in London over Mohammed cartoons

Yesterday about five thousand Muslims rallied in London to protest cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammad in an unfavourable manner. They were also speaking out against islamic radicalism as displayed in earlier protests in Britain and elsewhere. Many marched under the British flag (as seen in this photo from The Scotsman).

'This is the Muslim community,' said the rally chairman, Anaf Altikriti, of the Muslim Association of Britain. 'Not a handful of people claiming vile things like those last Friday.' He was referring to protesters who took to the streets of London with placards embracing al-Qaeda and calling for the beheading of non-believers.
***
In defiance of the more violent protesters the week before, many held Union flags. One group of girls from east London each had one beside their banner. 'We are proud to be British,' said Najia Farhana. 'Muslims are proud to be British. The idea that we are not is a misconception.'

Her friend, Sumayah Razzak, said they had come there to defend the honour of Muhammad: 'But we are against all violence and hatred and also condemn those evil reactions. We are hear to show Muslims are peaceful.'
***
Nearby, David Spring, a white man with a shaved head, held one side of a Union flag while a Muslim man held another. 'I am here to show that I agree with peaceful protest,' said Spring. 'I don't understand the true feelings that the cartoon has aroused but I was angry about last week's protests so have come to support this different kind of protest.'

I have not read any stories of flags being burned in Trafalgar Square yesterday, in contrast to the incidents of Friday, 3 February, when Danish flags were burned outside the Embassy of Denmark in London. There were only a few hundred al-Qaeda supporters at the earlier rally/riot, as opposed to the 5,000 who rejected violence yesterday.

Flags of the Day

Today is Georgia Day/Oglethorpe Day in the State of Georgia; Union Day in Myanmar (Burma); and Abraham Lincoln's Birthday in the United States.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Snow!

It is a snowy day today in Middle Tennessee near the Kentucky border. The Scandinavian flags look at home this morning.

Sophia Loren carries Olympic Flag

Oscar winnin Italian actress, Sophia Loren, is one of eight celebrity women carrying the Olympic Flag in the opening ceremonies for the winter olympics last night. The photo here is somewhat older--August 1957.

The other flag bearers were Chilean writer Isabel Allende, 1984 Olympic champion Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco, American actress Susan Sarandon, Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, Italy's International Olympic Committee member Manuela Di Centa, 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maria Mutola of Mozambique and Cambodian activist Somaly Mam

WARNING FOR FLAG BURNERS!

Welsh flagmakers, MrFlag.com, have sold a year's supply of Danish flags in the past two weeks. Owner Charles Ashburner warns Muslim protesters they risk horrific burns if they torch his Danish flags at a mass rally in London today.

"If the bits of burning material land on anyone's skin or eye, they will stick and cause serious injury or blindness."

Mr. Ashburner is also the owner of FlagWire, for which I serve as editor.

Flags of the Day

Today is Shaheed Day in Bangladesh; Youth Day in Cameroon; Giorno della Conciliazione Day in Italy; Victory of the Islamic Revolution Day in Iran; National Foundation Day/Empire Day in Japan; Armed Forces Day in Liberia; National Inventors Day in the United States; and Independence Day in the Vatican. It is also the Feast of St. Gregory II.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is St. Paul's Shipwreck Day Malta.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Showing of Danish flag roils town...

...not in Syria or Gaza, but in Massachusetts!

Mark Stankiewicz, Town Manager of Stoughton, Massachusetts, "bought two Danish flags on Monday and raised one of the red-and-white banners outside the Town Hall that morning, flying it on the pole beneath the US flag."

He took the Dannebrog down the next day, after being informed that it was not proper to fly the flags of two nations on the same pole. Stankiewicz's good intentions notwithstanding, flying the flag of Denmark below the US flag was technically an insult to the Danish flag.

But it is not the unintentional faux pas that has caused an uproar. No, it is the fear expressed by an organization called The Stoughton No Place for Hate Committee that showing solidarity with an American ally and the concept of freedom of speech might "offend" radical islamists.

As for me, I am flying the Dannebrog in front of my home, on my car, and on my desk at my office.

Flags of the Day

Today is Statehood Day in Nebraska; and the birthday of President William Henry Harrison. It is also the Commemoration of St. Apollonia.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Gaza shopkeeper stocks up on Danish flags to burn

Following up on Monday's question, my bride, Nora, found a Reuters story about a shop keeper in Gaza who has stocked up on Danish flags to supply protesters with fuel for their fires. But, as we noted here Monday, he has found that many protesters "prefer to save money and make the flags themselves from scraps of fabric".

Flags of the Day

On this day in 1861, the convention of seceded States created the provisional government of the Confederate States of America. Today is Culture Day in Slovenia.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags Half-Masted for Coretta Scott King

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

As a mark of respect for the memory of Coretta Scott King, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that on February 7, 2006, the day of her interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Flags of the Day

Today is the birthday of St. Thomas More. It is also Independence Day in Grenada; and Statehood Day in Oklahoma.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Ronald Reagan's Birthday. It is also Hristo Botev's Birthday in Bulgaria; Ratification Day in Massachusetts; Constitution Day in Tennessee; and New Zealand Day (Waitangi Day) in New Zealand.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

North to Alaska!

A flag that flew over the hall in which Alaska's Constitutional Convention met prior to statehood, has returned to Alaska. It will be conserved and featured in a celebration of Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood in 2009.

Where did all the Danish flags come from?

This is a question that several news stories and bloggers have asked lately. For example, from Charles Moore in yesterday's edition of The Telegraph:

It's some time since I visited Palestine, so I may be out of date, but I don't remember seeing many Danish flags on sale there. Not much demand, I suppose. I raise the question because, as soon as the row about the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Jyllands-Posten broke, angry Muslims popped up in Gaza City, and many other places, well supplied with Danish flags ready to burn. (In doing so, by the way, they offered a mortal insult to the most sacred symbol of my own religion, Christianity, since the Danish flag has a cross on it, but let that pass.)
Why were those Danish flags to hand? Who built up the stockpile so that they could be quickly dragged out right across the Muslim world and burnt where television cameras would come and look? The more you study this story of "spontaneous" Muslim rage, the odder it seems.

I suspect the answer is that they were home-made. The flag of Denmark is not difficult to make, and if you look closely at some of the news photos, such as this Reuters photo from Pakistan, it is fairly easy to discern from the slightly misaligned cross that this one was run up on someone's home machine.

Others such as the ones in this Reuters photo from Turkey, have a cross that is centered on the flag. Denmark's flag has a "Scandinavian" cross, which, like those on the flags of Norway, Sweden and Finland, is set off toward the hoist of the flag. The centred cross on these flags technically make them flags of the French province of Savoy.

Flags of the Day

Today is J.L. Runeborg's Birthday in Finland; Constitution Day in Mexico; and Liberation Day in San Marino.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Sri Lanka; and Kosciuszko Day in the United States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Heroes' Day in Mozambique; Four Chaplains Memorial Day in the United States of America; the the feast of St. Blase.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Honduras; Federal Territory Holiday in Malaysia; Air Force Day in Nicaragua; and National Freedom Day in the United States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.