Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in the Republic of Georgia; and Republic Day in Malta. On this date in 1949 Newfoundland joined the Canadian confederation.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Not a good signal

Many of us are sympathetic to folks who wish to come to America to find a better life. Many of us who are descended from immigrants of a century or two (or three) ago still cling to a fondness for the "mother countries" of our ancestors. However, most of us do not want to turn America into what our ancestral countries are or were. A visible symbol like this one at Montebello High School in Montebello, California, sends the wrong message altogether.

It should be noted, however, that this was not the act of students of that school.

"On Monday, March 27, 2006 at noontime, a group of students from neighboring school districts to the east of Montebello (i.e. El Rancho Unified School District and Whittier Union High School District) marched to Montebello High School (MHS). At this time, MHS was on lockdown and the students remained in their classrooms. The other students, from outside Montebello Unified School District, who were estimated to be 800-1000 strong, gathered outside the MHS campus. For a brief time, the school flag was lowered, replaced with a Mexican flag, and the American flag flown beneath, upside down. The California flag was subsequently stolen. It is important to emphasize that this was not the act of any Montebello High School student."

Flags of the Day

Today is Commemoration Day in Madagascar; Youth Day/Martyr's Day in the Republic of China; Delaware Swedish Colonial Day; and Flag Day in Iowa. On this date in 1882 the Knights of Columbus received their charter. Today is the birthday of President John Tyler.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Election Day in Israel; and the birthday of Gen. Wade Hampton. It is also the memorial of St. Pope Sixtus III.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flag desecration bill introduced in Australia

While Bill Frist, MD, et al., are pushing forward an amendment to the US Constitution to allow the outlawing of flag desecration in the American federation, a bill to make it a federal criminal offence to destroy or damage their national flag is being considered by the parliament of the Australian federation.

Flags of the Day

Today is Armed Forces Day in Myanmar (Burma); and the feast of Saint Gelasius of Armagh.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Bangladesh. On this date in 1861, Mississippi became the fifth state to ratify the Constitution of the Confederate States of America. On this date in 1951, the flag of the United States Air Force was approved.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.
US Air Force flag courtesy of FOTW.

Return of the Battle Flags

On this date in 1905, Captured Confederate flags held by the US War Department were returned to the Southern States.

Happy New Year!

Well, not really. It would have been if we still operated under the Julian calendar. But then, if we still operated under the Julian calendar, today would be April 13th.

Under the Julian calendar, March 25th was New Year's Day. The 25th is the feast of the Annuciation, marking the archangel Grabriel's visit to Mary to announce that she would become the Mother of the Messiah. When Mary answered "be it done unto me according to thy word", the Christ child was conceived in her by the Holy Ghost, the Word became flesh, and the Christian Era began. So, when the Christian method of dating years was invented in the 6th century, March 25 of the Year of Our Lord (Anno Domini) 1 was reckoned the beginning of the calendar.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Greece; Memorial Day for the Victims of the communist genocide in Latvia; Maryland Day; and the Solemnity of the Annunciation.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flag salute passed by unanimous Senate vote

The Senate version of the bill to adopt an official salute to the Tennessee flag, passed by a unanimous vote in the Tennessee Senate yesterday.

Flags of the Day

Today is Agriculture Day in the United States of America; and the Commemoration of St Gabriel.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Memorial Day in Bolivia; Armed Forces Day in Laos; Independence Day in Lithuanie, and in Sudan; and Pakistan Day. On this date in 1861 Texas became the fourth state to ratify the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

Animated flag provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Family discovers 75-year-old city hall flag in basement

"A 75-year-old union flag that once flew above Ottawa's second city hall has been recovered."

"The flag was flying above the old city hall, located on the present site of the National Arts Centre, when a fire destroyed the building in 1931."

Muslim Soldiers Refuse to Salute Flag

After three Muslim conscripts of the Austrian army refused to salute the Austrian flag at a parade and instead turned their backs on it, an imam was summoned to issue a fatwa stating that Muslims are allowed to salute the Austrian flag.

South Carolina governor given half-masting authority

When Rosa Parks died, President Bush ordered flags on Federal buildings lowered to half-mast on the day of her funeral. In Columbia, South Carolina, folks noticed that flags were not half-masted on State buildings. It was not that the governor intended to insult the memory of Mrs. Parks. The problem was that the South Carolina Code specified when the flag could be half-masted, and gave the governor no discretion to order it done at other times.

The legislature has passed a new law giving the governor much broader half-masting authority.

Flags of the Day

Today is Emancipation Day in Puerto Rico.

Animated flag provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Benito Juarez's Birthday in Mexico; Independence Day in Namibia; Human Rights Day in South Africa; and Youth Day in Tunisia. It is also the Persian New Year, and the Commemoration of Saint Benedict. On this date in 1861, Louisiana became the third state to ratify the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Thousands -- flying banned flag -- stage election protest in Belarus capital

From The Irish Times:

Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets in the centre of the Belarus capital, Minsk, last night accusing the government of rigging elections after early results predicted a landslide victory for president Alexander Lukashenko.

Despite police road blocks around the city and in the city centre, a crowd of eight to 10 thousand mostly young demonstrators managed to get to October Square, some unfurling red and white banners which had been the national flag until Mr Lukashenko replaced it with a red and green flag in the 1990s.

"This is our national symbol, the real one," said 21-year-old Nastia Korotkaya, a student from Minsk.

Her friend, Pavel Krupsky (22), holding the other end of the banner, said: "We want a free government."

The protesters blocked traffic for a while, then moved to the steps of a theatre on the edge of the square. State television, which broadcast pictures of the president on a giant screen at the far end of the square, did not transmit pictures of the demonstration.

Protesters shouted "Free Belarus" and "Freedom". Asked about warnings from the Belarus security service, which retains its Soviet-era acronym the KGB, that they would treat such protests as "terrorism" both students said they were not afraid. "I think the police are with the people," said Ms Korotkaya.

She turned around to show me the empty backpack where she had hidden the flag. "We put it in there because otherwise the police would take it," said Mr Krupsky.

Across the square was evidence of careful planning for the rally. Groups of young people had smuggled flags into the square by wrapping them around their bodies. These were fitted to slender telescopic flag poles, which had been concealed in the trouser legs or under the jackets of the protesters.

"They say we are enemies, terrorists, I think this is terrible," said Mr Krupsky. "I don't believe in our constitution." Long before voting ended, two pro-government institutes had issued "exit polls" showing Mr Lukashenko capturing more than 80 per cent to about 4 per cent for his main rival.

Main opposition hopeful Alexander Milinkevich denounced the election as fraudulent. "The results will be unrealistic and falsified," Mr Milinkevich told reporters. "We will not recognise them and nor will democratic countries. This is already clear."

Mr Lukashenko, known as "batka" or father, tells Belarussians he has offered stability and remains popular among elderly and rural voters. The central elections commission said 81 per cent had cast ballots by 4pm (1400GMT), far above the 50 per cent mark needed to make the election valid.

Flags of the Day

Today is Oil Nationalization Day in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Independence Day in Tunisia.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Youth Day in Zambia; and the Solemnity of St Joseph.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Original "Old Glory" returns to Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TENN. -- The original 1820s Old Glory flag, made famous during the Civil War, is returning to Nashville for the first time in more than 100 years to be displayed at the Tennessee State Museum.

The exhibit, entitled Old Glory: An American Treasure Comes Home, is free to the public and will also feature various historic flags and replicas of famous U.S. flags. The Old Glory flag, which measures 10' x 17', is on loan to the State Museum from the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

The nickname for the United States flag, Old Glory, was originally attached to a flag made in 1824 for a young sea captain, William Driver (1803-1886) from Salem, Massachusetts. When first gazing at the flag, Driver was supposedly moved to call it "Old Glory", a name he used to describe the flag throughout his lifetime.

Old Glory gained its notoriety during the Civil War when Driver, who had moved to Nashville in 1837 after his wife died, raised the flag at the State Capitol after Nashville was captured by the Union Army.

"We are extraordinarily proud to have Old Glory return to Nashville where its fame originated before spreading across America," said Lois Riggins-Ezzell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. "This is a singular opportunity to see a treasured artifact of Tennessee and U.S. history, and we hope the people of Tennessee and surrounding states will take advantage of this rare chance."

Old Glory was originally flown from Driver's merchant ship in the 1820s/1830s. When in Nashville, he hoisted it across the street at each national holiday and on his birthday of March 17. As the Civil War drew near and sentiment for the Confederacy grew in Nashville, Driver, a staunch Unionist, reportedly hid Old Glory by having it sewn into a quilt. The war divided Driver's family as two of his sons fought for the Confederacy, one being killed at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862.

In February 1862 Nashville became the first state capital in the Confederacy to fall to Union troops. Upon the arrival of Union soldiers, Driver removed Old Glory from its hiding place and flew it from the State Capitol.

The newspapers of the time ran stories of Old Glory being brought out of hiding. Before long, people began referring to all U.S. flags as Old Glory.

Originally a 24-star flag when it was created for Driver, Old Glory was re-sewn around 1860, adding 10 more stars for the states that had joined the Union after the flag was originally constructed. An anchor was also added on the canton of the flag, which referred to Driver's experiences as a sea captain.

Old Glory remained in the Driver family until 1922 when it was presented by his daughter, Mary Jane Roland, to President Warren G. Harding. The flag was in a very delicate condition, and it essentially remained in storage until 1981 when Tennesseans raised the funds necessary to begin conservation efforts.

A second stabilization effort was just completed on the flag so that it could be shipped from the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, and displayed at the State Museum .

The Tennessee State Museum is located at Fifth and Deaderick streets in downtown Nashville. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays. Parking is available at paid lots during the week or free on weekends in state employee parking lots to the west of the State Capitol.

Lawmaker wants Tennesseans to honor state flag with salute

State Representative Tom DuBois (R-Columbia) wants a four-line rhyme professing pride and love for the Tennessee flag to be recited by the legislature for now, and maybe someday by schoolchildren pledging allegiance to the U.S. flag.

The text of the salute, as set out in House Bill 2874, is:
"Three white stars on a field of blue
God keep them strong and ever true
It is with pride and love that we
Salute the Flag of Tennessee."

Of course, the ACLU is not happy about it.

Government of Punjab province bans unauthorised use of Pakistani flag on vehicles

According to Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja:

only the president, prime minister, speakers and deputy speakers of the national and provincial assemblies, federal and provincial ministers, the Senate chairman, the Supreme Court chief justice, the chief election commissioner and provincial governors and chief ministers to fly the Pakistani flag on their official cars.

Battle flag returns to Perryville

The battle flag of the 18th U.S. Regulars has been donated to Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site in Kentucky.

Flags of the Day

Today is Flag Day in Aruba; National Day in Haiti; the birthday of John C. Calhoun; and the Memorial of St Cyril of Jerusalem.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day! It is also the birthday of Irish-born Confederate general Patrick R. Cleburne. On this date in 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is the birthday of President James Madison. On this date in 1861, the state of Georgia became the second state to ratify the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Honduras; National Day in Hungary; Armed Forces Day/Labor Day in Iran; Statehood Day in Maine; Youth Day in the Palau; and Andrew Jackson's Birthday in Tennessee. It is also the festival of Holi in India, Mauritius and Nepal.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

South Carolina has shot at rewinning Revolutionary War flags

On May 29, 1780, British troops under Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton massacred American forces in Lancaster County, S.C. at what is various named the Battle of the Waxhaws or Buford's Massacre.

The commonly held view is American Col. Abraham Buford believed he was outnumbered by Tarleton's forces and ordered his 350 Virginia Continentals to raise the flag of truce.

When Tarleton came forward to accept the flag, his horse was shot out from under him. He fell and the horse fell on top of him, leading his men to believe their leader had been killed. They attacked the mostly unarmed Americans furiously, inflicting an average of 16 saber and bayonet wounds on the 113 dead and 150 wounded.

British casualties: Five killed, 14 wounded.

For the past 226 years, three flags captured at that battle have hung in the homes of Tarleton's descendants.

On June 14, 2006 (Flag Day in the USA), Southeby's will auction the flags. The State of South Carolina is raising money to bid on them. The Commonwelath of Virginia, whose troops were the victims of the massacre, has also expressed an interest.

Flags of the Day

Today is Revolution Day in Grenada; and Good Samaritan Involvement Day in the United States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Is the Left Right in Venezuela?

Much has been made of the revised coat-of-arms of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the direction in which the horse is running. Most commentators, and Señor Chávez himself, believe that the old horse was running "to the right", and the new version has the horse running "to the left" as a reflection of Señor Chávez's socialist revolution.

This is, however, not an accurate reflection of heraldic conventions. In heraldry, left and right are perceived from the point of view of the shield, or of a person standing behind and holding the shield. While the original version may have had the horse running toward the viewer's right, it was running towards its own left. So, through a misunderstanding of the concepts of heraldic art, Señor Chávez now has Venezuela's horse charging to the right.

Flags of the Day

Today is the anniversary of the Death of Sun Yet-Sen in the Republic of China; Renovation Day in Gabon; Moshoeshoe's Day in Lesotho; Independence Day in Mauritius; Commonwealth Day (formerly British Empire Day) in the British Commonwealth; and Flag Day in Venezuela. It is also the Commemoration of St Gregory I the Great. On this date in 1861, Alabama ratified the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Maha Shivaratree in Mauritius; Independence Day in Lithuania; and Johnny Appleseed Day in the United States of America. It is also the Commemoration of St Teresa Margaret Redi, Italian Carmelite. On this date in 1861, the Confederate Constitutional Convention adopted the Constitution of the Confederate States of America and submitted it to the States for ratification.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Teachers Day in Laos; is Arbor Day in New Mexico; and Tibet Uprising Day. It is also the Commemoration of the 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste, Armenia and the Commemoration of St John Ogilvie, Scottish Jesuit.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Changes to Venezuelan flag approved

The Venezuelan National assembly has now appoved the changes to the flag requested by President Hugo Chavez. As reported by Associated Press:

President Hugo Chavez has pulled Venezuela steadily to the left, and now he's even got the horse on the national flag running that way.

Venezuela's solidly pro-Chavez National Assembly gave final approval Tuesday to changes in the flag proposed by the socialist president: an eighth star and a turnabout of the horse that until now has galloped to the right.

The move clears the way for Chavez to unfurl the new national banner on Flag Day on Sunday.

Second Confederate flag-related suit filed in Knoxville

Last week we posted a story about students suing an East Tennessee school over its policy banning the Confederate flag.

Yesterday, a new suit was filed by a student charging hassassment by a teacher because she is the girl friend of one of the plaintiffs in the first suit.

KNOXVILLE, TN -- A lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court seeks $10 million in damages from Blount County education officials for harassment of a female high school student.

Both the lawsuit and a request for a temporary restraining order filed simultaneously allege that William Blount High School Principal Steve Lafon threatened the minor student and ?took close up pictures of [her] thighs,? with no other students or school employees present, in a pair of jeans her teacher, Mark Williams, claimed violated the school?s dress code. Williams has been named as a co-defendant in the suit, together with the entire Blount County School Board.

The incident occurred on March 3, only hours after Lafon had been served with a lawsuit stemming from the school?s ban on images of the Confederate flag. The female student whom Lafon allegedly forcibly photographed is the girl friend of one of the student plaintiffs in that case, and today?s suit claims that Lafon?s actions against her were in retaliation for the first suit. Williamson had sent several other students to the office for reported violations of the dress code, but only the girl friend was subjected to being photographed, the suit states.

Knoxville Attorney Van Irion filed both complaints and represents plaintiffs in both actions. The Southern Legal Resource Center of Black Mountain, North Carolina, is acting as co-counsel. The SLRC is a nonprofit legal organization that specializes in cases involving Southern heritage and culture.

The motion for temporary restraining order requests that the female plaintiff be transferred out of Williamson?s class at once, and that neither Williamson nor Lafon be allowed within fifty feet of her.

Flags of the Day

Today is Baron Bliss Day in Belize; Ratification Day in Connecticut; and Taras Shevchenko Day in Ukraine. It is also the Commemoration of Gregory, bishop of Nyssa.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Flag Day for the Flags Of The World (FOTW) web site; and Revolution Day in Syria. It is also the Memorial of St John of God.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Burbank Day/Bird & Arbor Day in California; and Veterans Day in Laos. It is also the Commemoration of St Perpetua & her companions, martyrs.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Reuters wrong on flag ID

Yesterday, communists marked the 53th anniversary of Josef Stalin's death in his hometown of Gori in the Republic of Georgia. The caption accompanying this Reuter's photo of the event identified the flag shown as the "old flag of the Soviet Georgian republic". This is actually the former flag of Soviet Armenia.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Ghana; and Magellan Day/Discovery Day in Guam.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Failed Coup Day in Equatorial Guinea; and National Chief's Day in Vanuatu.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Flags of the Day

Today is Confederate Flag Day--the anniversary of the adoption of the first flag of the Confederate States of America in 1861, and the third and final Confederate flag in 1865. It is also Charter Day in Pennsylvania; Magka Puja in Thailand; Constitution Day in the United States of America; and Statehood Day in Vermont.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Students sue over flag ban

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE -- Three high school students and their parents are suing the Blount County School Board and two school officials in connection with the ban on Confederate symbols currently in effect there. The suit will be filed today at the federal courthouse in Knoxville.

The suit charges that the students? constitutional rights were violated between May of 2005 and January of 2006, when they were subjected to disciplinary action for wearing items of clothing bearing the Confederate flag. The action taken against the students, as well as the ban on Confederate symbols itself, violates their First Amendment rights of free speech. The disciplinary action taken against them also violates Fourteenth Amendment principles of equal protection and due process, the suit alleges.

Knoxville Attorney Val Irion is acting as counsel for the students and their families, supported by the Southern Legal Resource Center of Black Mountain, North Carolina. The SLRC, as it is known, is a legal organization that specializes in civil rights cases involving Southern heritage and culture issues.

?In a school system that supposedly prizes diversity and allows students to wear and display all manner of ethnic and cultural symbols, these kids were discriminated against simply for taking pride in their own ancestry,? said Roger McCredie, the SLRC?s Executive Director.

On February 10, Irion sent a letter to William Blount Principal Steve Lafon, with copies to the school board, seeking a review of the school?s policy. He received no reply. ?That means the taxpayers of Knox County now are going to have to fund a lawsuit that?s been made necessary by their refusal even to discuss this matter.?

Earlier this week the SLRC settled a case out of court on behalf of its client Jacqueline Duty, a Kentucky student who was barred from her senior prom for wearing a, evening dress patterned after the Confederate flag. That case in turn was based on another SLRC victory, Castorina v. Madison County Schools, in which an appellate court struck down a school board?s ban on Confederate symbols. The Federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, where the Castorina case was heard, includes Tennessee, McCredie noted. ?The Blount County School Board?s legal counsel must surely be aware of that,? McCredie said.

Irion will act as lead attorney in the case, with SLRC Chief Trial Counsel Kirk D. Lyons acting as co-counsel, McCredie said.

The Star Spangled Banner

On this date in 1931, Francis Scott Key's The Star Spangled Banner became the official national anthem of the United States of America.

Flags of the Day

Today is Liberation Day in Bulgaria; Statehood Day in Florida; Partial Independence Day in Grenada; Japanese Girl's Day in Hawaii; Hina Matsuri in Japan; Flag Day in Kyrgyzstan; Martyr's Day in Malawi; National Day in Morocco; and Unity Day in Sudan.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Tahlequah City Flag Design Contest

The city of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, capitol of the western band of the Cherokee Nation, is having a flag design contest.

Flags of the Day

Today is Independence Day in Morocco and Texas. It is also Battle of Aduwa Day in Ethiopia; and Farmers' Day in Myanmar (Burma). It was Republic Day in Rhodesia.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.

Wrong flag hoisted

Yesterday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaferi arrived in Ankara, Turkey, with a stay at the Sheraton Hotel. The hotel staff, thinking they were honouring the prime minister with the flag of Iraq, instead raised the flag of Syria over the hotel. The two flags are illustrated below. The Iraqi flag is the one with three stars.

Flags of the Day

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is also Flag Day in Mali and St. Lucia; Independence Day in Korea; Statehood Day in Nebraska and Ohio; Constitution Day in Panama; Heroes' Day/National Defense Day/Memorial Day in Paraguay; and St. David's Day in Wales and the Comemoration of St. David in the Catholic Church.

Animated flags provided courtesy of Pascal Gross.