ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 - 24th Presentation by Bruce Berry, South Africa

Day 4 - Speaker #25
SOUTH AFRICA

The twenty fourth presentation was given by Bruce Berry and was entitled Stillborn: Flags Designed for the "Republic of KwaNdebele".

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 - 23rd Presentation by Marcel van Westerhoven, Netherlands

Day 4 - Speaker #24
NETHERLANDS

The twenty third presentation was given by Marcel van Westerhoven and was entitled Translating Coasts of Arms and Emblems into Flags.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 - 22nd Presentation by Patrice de la Condamine, France

Day 4 - Speaker #23
FRANCE

The twenty second presentation was given by Patrice de la Condamine and was entitled Flags of Constructed Languages.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 - 21st Presentation by Ralph G. C. Bartlett, Australia

Day 4 - Speaker #22
AUSTRALIA

The twenty first presentation was given by Ralph G. C. Bartlett and was entitled Unity in Flags.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 -20th Presenation by Sebastia Herros Agui, Spain

Day 4 - Speaker #21
SPAIN - CATALUNYA

The twentieth presentation was given by Sebasetia Herreros Agui and was entitled Catalan Modernism and Vexillology.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 -19th Presenation by Tony Burton, Australia

Day 4 - Speaker #20
AUSTRALIA

The nineteenth presentation was given by Tony Burton and was entitled Raising the Standard: An Argument from Design.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 4 - 18th Presentation by Alain Raullet, France

Day 4 - Speaker #19
France - Brittany

The eighteenth speaker was given by Alain Raullet and was entitled Following the Voice: The Eyes of Vexillology.

Flags of the World Meeting and Display Tables

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology's Vexi-Bits

Vexi-bits are a proud tradition at every NAVA meeting, likewise the 24th International Congress of Vexillology was no exception. Vexi-bits are small presentations centered on flags, they are mostly fun fact trivia items or miscellaneous anecdotes. Vexi-bits can basically be about anything - even flag 'stealing' squirrels.

The Vexi-bits for ICV #24 took place in the open dining hall of Embassy Suites Alexandria, the forlorn Capital of the United States from 1790-1847,
The following vexi-bits are in no particular order:


Vexi-bit #1: Geoff Parsons - talked a wee bit about the UK flag, and maybe regular Brits will be able to fly the Union Flag without legal mumbo-jumbo. We learned about what they do at The Flag Institute. The UK Flag Institute does not yet have a royal charter but one may be coming soon. Nonetheless the UK Flag Institute continues to act as the leading flag recorder for the United Kingdom.



Vexi-bit #2: Marcus Schmoger spoke again about the arms and flag of San Marino. FYI, San Marino is a nation inside of Italy. Usually a nation is on the border with another or at least has a coast line. But San Marino is like Lesotho in South Africa.




Vexi-bit #3: Arthur Etchells talked about his vast collection of military flags for Czech, Austria and other Northern European countires.





Vexi-bit #4: Annie Platoff - more info on conspiracy theorists about US flag on the moon . Platoff said the flags for the Apollo missions varied. The Apollo 11 and 12 US flags were 3' x 5' and the flags for Apollo 13 thru 16 flags were 2.5' x 4' and the Apollo 17 flag was 3.5' x 6.6.'






Vexi-bit #5: Phillip Rault - spoke again about the deaths of flying the Confederate Flag at the Monaco Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia; other Confederate flags; and Irish starry plow flag. He also showed of his own flag for the of Brittany Liberation. It has a Celtic Sun with nine rays. The colours are black, orange and white in horizontal tri-bar form - black on the bottom, orange in the middle, and white up top. The middle orange bar is thinnest while the upper white bar is thickest.



Vexi-bit #6: Tony Burton - Showed us a comprehensive survey about flags of Australia. And showed us a Islamic War-Prayer Flag: white Arabic Calligraphy on black and the another that was black Arabic on a white background.






Vexi-bit #7: Chris Bedwell - Presented the city flag of Phoenix, Arizona. If is composed a North American bald eagle facing the fly with wings spread on top of a rather large yellow sun with many short red rays.





Vexi-bit #8: Peter Hans Van den Muijzenberg - Jacks and flags of Europe.







Vexi-bit #9: Bill Trinkle - gave airtime about the wonderful and virtual Bear Flag Museum. Spoke about native sons of the Golden West - who celebrated the 50 anniversary as a state in 1900. This group made extra effort to promote their flag. Showed us the California Democratic Convention flag of 1984 which fused the Dem Donkey in Cali-style. Trinkle also showed us a flag of Marin County - a horizontal tri-bar from the bottom up of blue, red, and orange. It has a double swallow tail, in the center is a white shape of the county, and by the fly are the letter M on orange, C on red, and F on blue near the fly. Ted Kaye suggested that it may not be the flag and rather represent the Marin County Fair.




Vexi-bit #10: Jim Farrigan III - Made a joke that - "sacred cows make the best hamburgers." He told the story of a printing error for the California State flag with blue bears. We were told about the origin of the California Blue Bear flags. It started out as a mistake, but were all sold as novelties. He knew the Democrats were going to loose the 1984 election because the CA democratic party wanted to rent a presidential flag instead of purchasing one.



Vexi-bit #11: Roman Klimes - spoke a wee bit about European Flags.





Vexi-bit #12: A bit about NY State flags


Vexi-bit #13: Ted Kaye - Enlightened us about the on goings of the Portland Flag Association. It has about 20-25 members with an average of 12 persons showing up for each meeting. This truly unique "Oregon-ization" has become the leading voice in Portland for effective flag design. Kaye also showed us the first semi-official vexillological 'Flag Police Padge.' In the center was a coloured version of the official state seal of Oregon.




Vexi-bit #14: Amy Langston - the youngest speaker and vexillologist at the ICV 24. She spoke about how she became interested in flags. She became aware of this congress though Wikipedia, and decided to attend. She like many vexilloligist recalled an interest in flags tracing back to the flag section in an Almanc that was foundational to her interest in flags.










Vexi-bit #15: Jelena Borošak-Marijanović - We saw a Croatian warship flag. It features the famous Croatian Checker Coat of Arms with two crossed golden anchors in the background.






Vexi-bit #16: Nick Artimovich - Exposed his methodology of getting old retired flags from the US State Department - that included old Afghanistan and old Finland flags.







Vexi-bit#17: Clyde Simpson - He added a discussion of science/chemistry with vexillology. Simpson also noted that it being his first ICV and enjoyed everyones warmth and friendliness.





Vexi-bit #18: Marlene Little - She showed us a South Korean Flag handbag that she got through her local church when visitors from South Korea came to visit. It is a combination of vexillology and fashion. The red and blue symbol is based upon the ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism - which heeds a strong call for balance.





Vexi-bit #19: - A new UK Union flag was presented - including the Welsh Cross of St. David and Red Cross for Ulster. Virtual-Imaginary vexillology got a boost with presentation of imaginary Kingdom of Aefira. The flags of Aefira followed in format the official flag of the UK.














Vexi-bit #20: William Ang - Retro-60s/70s electronic vexi-art was shown. The US pyramid with flashing lights dazzled our eyes.





Vexi-bit #21: He told us to write on the heading any important places where you may fly a flag. We also saw a mini-model in proportion of the original Star Spangle Banner from the War of 1812.




Vexi-bit #22: Colin Simpson - He spoke about noticing flags while on a cruse in Alaska.



Vexi-bit #23: John Hartvigsen - a great talk about flag making with jokes and weird but true stories.



Vexi-bit #24: Ron Strachan from Australia spoke and showed us a colourful and design for the flag of Tiwi Island.










Vexi-bit #24: Christopher Maddish - I spoke about my flag proposals for the bodies of water on earth and flags for moons and any other heavenly body in our solar system.

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ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 3

On the third day attendees of the 24th International Congress of Vexillology lived up to its proper name and convened in Washington DC, instead of Alexandria, Virginia.

Vexillologists were given a behind the scenes look at some of some of Smithsonian's priceless collection of flags. The grand hi-light of the tour was a look at official Star Spangled Banner from the second Anglo-American War of 1812.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology General Assembly

The International Congress of Vexillology formally met today in the north lodge room at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

It was my first time to attend as an official delegate representing the hosting group of the Chesapeake Bay Flag Association.

ICV 24 Voting Card

1. A vexillological association was the nation of Georgia was formally admitted.
2. The 2013, 25th ICV Congress in the Netherlands was further confirmed.
3. The 2015, 26th ICV Congress in Australia was further confirmed.
4. The 2017, 27th ICV Congress was up for debate. The Untied Kingdom was offered up as a venue but the matter. But the matter was not settled and to be decided at a later date.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 17th Presentation by Suzanne Thomassen-Kraussg, USA

Day 2 - Speaker #18
USA - Columbia, the Washington District


The seventeenth presentation was given by Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss and was entitled Discoveries Made while Preserving the Star-Spangled Banner. Thomassen-Kraus works at the Smithsonian and works to conserve textiles of all sorts - including flags. She gave us general picture on the conservation on the conservation of the Star Spangled Banner.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 16th Presentation by Anne M. Platoff, USA

Day 2 - Speaker #8 & #18
second time speaking
USA - Kansas

The sixteenth presentation was also the second presentation given by Anne M. Platoff and was entitled Six Flags over Luna: The Role of Flags in Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories.

Platoff a former employee of NASA refuted the claims of groups that believe that the US faked the US moon landing, with special focus on flag pictures.

For her wonderful presentation Platoff would win the award for best American Presentation by the ICV Congress Board.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 15th Presentation by Ales Brozek, Czech

Day 2 - Speaker #17
Czech

The fifteenth presentation was given by Ales Brozek and was entitled Did the United States Influence the Czechoslovak National Flag?

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 14th Presentation by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, Netherlands

Day 2 - Speaker #16
NETHERLANDS

The fourteenth presentation was given be Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg and was entitled On a Scale of 1 to 10.

Muijzenberg from Friesland gave us a splendid presentation about the methodology of judging a flag for its effectiveness on a scale of 1 to 10. Ten being judged and excellent flag and one being a judged a horrible flag.


The K Scale was shows where a flag receives points from 0-2 on five aspects.
1. Simple
2.Meaning
3. 2-3 Colours
4. No letters, no seals
5. Distinctive or related

Huijzenberg notes that some criteria are subjective, does not address meaning, and is limited by its base list. There is need to globally validate the criteria.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 13th Presentation by Lee L. Harold, USA

Day 2 - Speaker #15
USA - Minnesota

The thirteenth presentation was given by Lee L. Herold and was entitled Why Flags? Searching for an Essence of Flag.

Herold began his presentation with thoughtful quote from Tolstoy about political dissent. He went on in a deliciously poetic and cerebral prose on the deeper meaning of flags and what they have to offer.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 12th Presentation by Scot Guenter, USA

Day 2 - Speaker #14
USA - California

The twelfth presentation was given by Scot Guenter and was entitled The Rise and Fall of Worldface: Social Networking, Stereotyping, and the Power of Flags.

Dr. Guenter gave a humorous belly aching presentation of the short history of World Face and its use of flags. World Face was parody site in a similar manner to Unencyclopedia is to Wikipedia. In this case World Face is only open to specific nation states. The humor stems from the classical formula of the juxtaposition of tweets and posts that mimic the international tensions between nations. This personalization of nations as virtual face book people has resulted in political bickers.

Basically it face book became an online virtual computer doll program where nations were mocked rather acutely and successful in a Face Book format. The playful use of a copy cat face book modeled the trappings of a website.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 11th Presentation by Marcus E.V. Schmoger, Germany

Day 2 - Speaker #13
GERMANY

The eleventh presentation was given by Marcus E.V. Schmoger and was entitled Political Party Flags of San Marino.

Schomoger gave us a vivid account about the story behind the Arms of San Marino and its use by political parties in San Marino, a little known micro-nation within Italy. The pattern is similar to Croatia with socialist and communist parties using traditionally red, and now white. But the common theme irrespective of party affiliation is the use of the three towers that can be found on the national coat of arms for San Marino.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 10th Presentation by Zeljk Heimer, Croatia

Day 2 - Speaker #12
CROATIA

The tenth presentation was given by Zeljko Heimer and was entitled National Identity in the Political Party Flag in Croatia.



Heimer gave us an over view of the various political flags within Croatian Politics. Heimer was greeted to wide range of applause as he just recently learned that he was no longer a Captain in Croatian Army but rather a Major. Heimer began the presentation by telling us that the political field and climate of Croatia is similar to the general temperature of Europe. Meaning the span of political parties is similar in France, Denmark and Croatia that has socialist to conservative christian parties.

Since the colours of the Croatian flag are red, white, and blue in a similar tone to flag of the Netherlands, most political parties have adopted those colours. It is a light generalization to note that the colours also represent the various ethnics within Croatia. Red is associated with Croatians, white with Bosnians, and blue for Serbs. Also yellow is often associated with social liberal parties.

Left leaning parties used to have red in their flags but nowadays white is the preferred colour of choice. Blue flags are traditionally left leaning as well but with a Christian overtone.

Another Generalization about the Croation

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 2 - 9th Presentation by Jelena Borosak-Marijanovic, Croatia

Day 2 - Speaker #11

CROATIA

The ninth presentation was given Jelena Borosak-Marijanovic and was entitled Sokol Flags: The Symbols of the Croatian Sokol Movement up to 1914.

One of the earliest modern educational movements for scouting and physical fitness originated with the Czech Nation in the early 1860s. In the modern age, this effort to recruit youth with mental and physical challenges allowed communities to build foundations for political causes. Eventually the Sokol movement evolved into pan-Slav movement.

In a similar vein, in the United States of America - youth are indoctrinated with sports as a fundamental aspect of nationality and critical component of national pride. At the moment, men's football is the alpha-golden chalice of optimus prime vocations.

Jalena - her slide that reads
'The First Croation Pan-Sokol "slet" in Zagreb, Croatia (1906)'

The association with Croatian national pride and gymnastics was not an outspoken motivation of the Sokol Movement, however the marriage of sport and national or civic pride is an ancient theme that goes back to ancient Greece.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 8th Presentation by Donald T. Healy, USA

Day 1 - Speaker #10
USA - Arizona

The final presentation for the day was given by Donald T. Healy and entitled San Diego's Indian Tribal Flags.

Donald T. Healy at the Speakers Podium

Healy showed us a spectacular collection of Native American Flags. We were informed that San Diego County has the most Native American reservations out of all the counties in the United States - 18. Subsequently we were witness to a vast collection of Native American flags.

An interesting note was that the La Jolla Band flag was overseen by President Grant.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 7th Presentation by David B. Martucci, USA

Day 1 - Speaker #9
USA - Maine

Martucci at the Podium

The ninth presentation was given David B. Martucci and was entitled The Standards of the Manhattoes, Pavonia, and Hell-Gate.

Martucci's lecture revealed the symbols and icons used in the early part of New York's history, before it was called New York. Most of the American colonies were planted on top of Native American lands, but New York was doubly planted on top of Dutch Culture. The lecture focused on the seals and standards of the Hudson Bay when it was under Dutch control. Martucci first presented a general sketch of Peter Stuyvesant the last Dutch leader of New Amsterdam, before its reformation in to New York.


We were shown the original seals of the Hudson Region when it was called and spelled 'Nieuw Amsterdam.' There was also a discrepancy between the official seal that was adopted and the one that was actually used. The official seal has the lion supporters with beaver facing right, but the seal that was used had neither lions and beavers was facing the opposite direction.





Matucci showed us the standard of the Men used at the Battle of Manhattoes. It featured a beaver pointed towards the corner of the upper hoist. The term Manhattoes refers to the area where the Hudson emptied into New York Bay or rather Nieuw Amsterdam Bay.





Also featured was the standard of the Vassals of Ancient Pavonia, that featured a an oyster shell. Pavonia was the first European settlement on the west side of the Hudson in what is now Hudson County, New Jersey. Perhaps it can be seen as one of the earliest flags of New Jersey heritage?

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 6th Presentation by Annie Platoff, USA

Day 1 - Speaker #8
USA - Kansas


The eighth presentation was a short or rather over sized vexi-bit given by Annie Platoff and entitled Digital Library.

Platoff described the effort to index all materials related to Vexillology at one source. She actively encouraged all vexillologists to participate.

Platoff explaining the
purpose of an index

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 5th Presentation by Arthus Etchells III, USA

Day 1 - Speaker #7
USA - Pennsylvania

The fifth presentation was given by Arthur Etchels III and was entitled Foreign Influences on the Development of Russian Military Flags.

Current Banner of the Armed
Forces of the Russian Federation

Etchels gave us an overview in the selection process of Russian military colours. He showed us that at design of flags in each era were influenced by the collective designs within Europe. At times Russian military flags followed the style of Prussia, Germany, England, and even France.


Although Soviet Union is gone the Russian Army has preserved the colour red in it modern Army flag because reds assocation with victorious Red mostly Russian Army.