Legion of Courage Badge from the Wizard of Oz 1939

The Cowardly Lion becoming the Brave Lion
The Wizard of Oz 1939

The Cowardly Lion being awarded a medal for his bravery by the Wizard of Oz. Dorthy and the gang stand in astonishment and witness to the event.








Cowardly Lion No More

The Wizard explains that you too are just as brave as anyone else. Medal or not, badges and military pins are simply markers of what is already inside.









Close up of Medal-Badge - Legion of Courage

The badge for the Legion of Courage is held up by a vertically seven striped ribbon - four red and three white. The medallion consists of a cross with a knights helmet facing dexter with the motto of "COURAGE" underneath written in gold on a blue scroll.

Vexilloid of the Wizard of Oz - or rather the Page of Oz

Servant to the Wizard of Oz with Vexilloid

The Wizard of Oz is something of mysterious character. Originally from Kansas, he was wafted away to Oz during a hot air balloon ride gone awry.

In Oz the wisest of the wise is a wizard from Kansas. He maintains power through effective use of 'Smoke and Mirrors' appearing more powerful in a made up projection.


Wizard of Oz in disguise as his page

Halberd Vexilloid from the Wizard of Oz

Halberds for the Wizard of Oz - 1939

The primary weapon of the Wicked Witch's Army consisted of a Halbred. Basically a pole with a deadly tip. The grey tassels it make more than just a weapon. The spear heads are cut in a fancy manner that is more artful than utilitarian.






The Scarecrow, Lion, Tin Man and Toto
Wizard of Oz 1939


Here the Scarecrow, Lion,Tin Man, and Toto are in disguise. We get a close up glimpse of the finials with an intricate gingerbread cut. Attached to the finials are large grey tassels that make it a vexilloid. Red tassels are also abundant on their uniforms.

Flag for the Mayor of Munchkin Town from the Wizard of Oz 1939

Heraldic Trumpet Flags - Muchkin Town
The Wizard of Oz 1939

After it is established in Munchkin Town that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead, the people of Munchkin Town celebrate and the Mayor comes out to proclaim a celebration and honor of Dorthy from Kansas.





Flags & Mayor of Munchkin Town
The Wizard of Oz 1939

The Mayoral Flags of Munchkin town are seen as heraldic trumpet like flags. Gold and white are the primary colours. The lower end is fringed in gold. In the central position is what looks like a double ended trumpet-flower? It is framed with golden designs. The shape is a Munchkin Gonfalone.




Dorthy is honored as the Town Hero
The Wizard of Oz 1939

The Munchkin coroner, mayor, and officials all confirm the Wicked Witch of the East is gone. Dorthy and Toto are sitting in the state carriage - also known as Munchkin One.

Flag in the Holliday Christmas Classic Elf 2003 - Starring Wil Ferrell

North Pole Elf Flag
Elf 2003

It may be Memorial Day Weekend - but since it's the 25th it is time for Christmas in May. Nine years ago Will Ferrell starred in one of the funniest Christmas movies to come out in a long time - Elf.

The original flag in this film is the red, white and green elf flag. It is similar in structure to an official standard but with a swallow tail. It has eight vertical stripes four white and four green. Near the hoist is a white snowflake on a red circle. The pole is also striped - white and green with a snowball for headpiece-finial.


US flag in Empire State Building Entrance
Elf 2003

US flags in the entrance way of the Empire State Building.








US Flag with Buddy the 'Elf'

Will Farrell plays as Buddy the elf. Buddy is an orphaned boy who accidentally gets taken to the North Pole one Christmas Night and is raised by an elf who never had time to make his own family.




Michael's School from Elf 2003

When Buddy the elf returns to his human family in NYC he is able to meet his long lost brother - Michael. Michael's middle school flag features a big cat with the apparent livery of yellow and blue.

NOAA Corps Flag and US Public Health Service Commissoned Corps

NOAA Corps Flag

Most people are familiar with the big four of uniformed federal service branches - Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy and not to mention the Coast Guard. However there are two more federally commissioned corps that don't get much time in the spot light - NOAA Corps and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The more familiar branch is the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Perhaps the most famous of all uniformed generals known to the public is The Surgeon General - especially to smokers. The Surgeon General was created under President Grant in 1871. Recently famous and colourful Surgeon Generals included Joycelyn Elders and Everett Koop.

The least known of the Uniformed Service branches is NOAA Corps. NOAA Corps is a part of NOAA, but only NOAA Corps can wear the military style uniform. NOAA Corps is like a private navy for NOAA.

If you never heard of NOAA it is the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a federal Agency like the FBI, but instead of dealing with criminal activity NOAA pays close attention to the weather and environment. Instead of police, NOAA is packed with the scientifically minded. Thus NOAA corps is the closest thing to a real life American Star Trek Agency with military rank and a scientific mission. But in an emergency, the US Navy can draft NOAA Crops 'air-sea land troopers' when things get too thin.

US Public Health Service Flag

Both flags feature anchors in their flags - denoting a connectivity to the US Navy. The NOAA Corps flag features two anchors piercing the earth with an eagle standing in a proud stance on top of the earth.

The US Public Health Flag also uses wings but of a different sort - in the traditional medical wings of Ophiucus - the cosmic healer in the night sky.

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Link to NOAA CORPS - "The Very Very Few, Proud & Adventurous"
http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/

Link to NOAA
http://www.noaa.gov/

Link to United States Public Heath Service
Did you know smoking increases the risk of cancer?
http://www.usphs.gov/

Johnny Depp and the Surgeon General talk about AIDS


NOAA Corps Video - the real life SEA LAB 2020