Joint GWAV & CBFA Meeting 2010, Part III

The second day of the joint GWAV & CBFA meeting took place at the historic West Virginia McLure Hotel in downtown Wheeling. The McLure Hotel opened for business on the 100 years after the birth of Betsy Ross in 1852. This hotel has bunked presidents, civil war generals, and many a famous West Virginian.

During the Civil War William Rosecrans drafted it for his HQ. Joseph McCarthy gave his infamous, 'list of Communist sympathizers' speech at this location. Previous guests include Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Marilin Monroe.

South Pacific Nation with British Union Flags
Australia - Fiji - New Zealand - Tuvalu

The first presentation of Sunday, November 14, 2010 was entitled The New Zealand Flag Controversy. It was given by William Belanich, Jr. An interesting flag that Belanich showed us was the proposed design that includes NZ that mirrors the current design.

Belanich spoke about the Aaron Nicholson Flag -
my favorite - that was designed in 2000 and recently had
a Native Kiwi cloud design added on the bottom in 2009

Belanich gave us an over view of the efforts to change the New Zealand flag. There are four nations in the South Pacific that still retain the British Union Flag in their national flag - Australia, Fiji, Tuvalu, and New Zealand. Which one will permanently abandon the British Flag? Tuvalu briefly broke the British South Pacific Flag cadence in the 1990s but later reverted to the UK sky blue design. Perhaps New Zealand and Australia would do the same?

I suppose if Scotland ever gets the gumption to separate from the United Kingdom, then that could solidify the South Pacific UK flags or push them to change their flag?


For one year, 1996-1997 Tuvalu
abandoned the British Flag but later
regretted the decision and returned
to the sky blue flag

Joint GWAV & CBFA Meeting 2010, Part II

The second speaker at the joint meeting between the Greater Waters Association of Vexillology and the Chesapeake Bay Flag Association was Dale Grimes, Jr. The title of his presentation was World War II Navy Flags Made on Mare Island.

Mare Island was the US Navy's first Pacific Naval Base. It is about 25 miles north of San Francisco. It functioned from 1854 until 1996. It's first Naval Commander was from Tennessee - David Farragut who became famous at the battle of Mobil Bay in 1861 with the quote, "Dam the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

Dale Grimes talking about his
historic and important Naval Flag Collection

However Mr. Grimes' presentation focused upon his vast collection of US Navy Flags of WWII. We were shown a delightful collection of banners and ensigns that 'saw' action in WWII.

Link to Dales Grimes Flags
cbfa.vexillology.info/Grimes/grimes.html

Joint GWAV & CBFA Meeting 2010, Part I

A joint meeting between two vexillological groups took place at Wheeling, West Virginia on the weekend of November 13, 2010. It was held between the Great Waters Association of Vexillology and the Chesapeake Bay Flag Association. The first day of the meeting took place at the historic West Virginia Independence Hall.

Nearly 150 years earlier a pro-Union Virginian congress met at this location, in spring of 1861. An important delegate of the 'Anti-Confederate Virginia Congress' was a cousin of Stonewall Jackson - John Jay Jackson.

1936 National Geographic Issue
Photo of an Authentic Son's of Liberty Flag?

The first speaker was Peter Ansoff. The title of his presentation was No Primary Reference: The Flag of the Sons of Liberty. In 1936 National Geographic published a photo of a supposed authentic Son's of Liberty Flag from the Revolutionary Era. However the sewing method and condition of the flag was inconsistent with flags made in the 1760s.

Mr. Ansoff also discussed the selection process for the NAVA 44 meeting flag.

Part of an Authentic Announcement
for Son's of Liberty Meeting from 1760s











You can learn more about the Sons of Liberty
On Wikipedia Here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Liberty

See Mr. Ansoff on Youtube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzK56PQDbKw

Blogging for a Year

under construction

Featured City Flag Roswell, New Mexico

The Flag of Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell may be famous for UFO and little green men, but this city in the desert has one of the most striking city flags one could come across.

It recycles the state flag's Zia Pueblo design. This flag looks more like fine modern art than a patriotic display of community pride.

If you find yourself voluntarily in Roswell, New Mexico be sure to snap some photos of this post-zen art flag.



The city seal is also artfully designed. Local city flags and seals have a higher chance of mutating. I hope the good people of Roswell, New Mexico keep things steady.

One can't help think that the rays of light shooting out of the Zia Sun Cross are extra terrestrial waves of energy beaming up some lonely hikers or special education teachers?

West Virginia 2010

The following video is about the presentation I gave at the joint meeting between the CBFA & GWAV that meet at Wheeling West Virginia, 2010. CBFA stands for Chesapeake Bay Flag Association and the GWAV stands for Greater Waters Association of Vexillology.

Yin & Yang of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Veteran's Day 2010

SEAL OF THE JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF - JCS

Almost all the flags for Joint Chiefs of Staff show a Yin-Yangic phenotype.

To the right is the seal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the center is the American shied without stars. There are four swords - two pointing upwards and two crossed at 45 degrees. In a circle surrounding swords are a bunched olive leaves.

These flags can be paired via my 'flag symmetry' concept.

Chief of Staff of the US Army Flag

Sergeant Major of the Army Flag

This is a union of the highest ranking officer of the Army with the top ranked NCO of the Army. The Army's Sergeant Major is one of two enlisted soldiers allowed to carry a colour - a flag.


The Chief of Naval Operations Flag

Commandant of the Coast Guard Flag

This is union of the highest ranking US Naval Officer with the highest ranking Coast Guard Officer.

The Chief of Staff Flag of the USAF

Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

Oddly the top officer in US Air Force is partnered with the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chief of Staff. The shades of blue are slightly different. The Senior Enlisted Advisor is supposed to the highest ranking NCO within all military branches. The Senior Enlisted Advisor can be either a Marine, Sailor, Airman, or Coast Guardsman. The Senior Enlisted Advisor is the only other enlisted soldier allowed to carry a flag besides the Army's Sergent Major.


The Flag for the Chairman of the JCS

Vice Chairman's Flag of the JCS

The Chairman & Vice Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff pair up. But only the flag of the Chairman exhibits a Yin-Yangic pattern.

If you are interested in joining the US Military or
Coast Guard check out these websites

US ARMY www.goarmy.com
US NAVY www.navy.com/navy/careers/
US MARINES www.marines.com/rmi
US AIR FORCE airforce.com/contact-us/recruiter-locator/
US COAST GUARD www.gocoastguard.com/get-the-answers/find-a-recruiter