ICV 27 - Speaker 34: Roman Klimes

 

The title of his paper was Symbols of the Bohemian Olympic Committee in 1912.

Klimes explored how Bohemia (a region in the former Czechoslovakia) created national symbols and used them in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. 

(additional contribution from Ted Kaye)

IVC 27 - Speaker 33: Alan Raullet

The title of his paper was The Third Way of Raising Flags in Brittany.

Raullet examined how in Britainy some flags are designed to hang downward from a horizontal pole, carried in a parade over the shoulder, as a third way to fly a flag.

(additional contribution from Ted Kaye)

ICV 27 - Speaker 32: Tony Burton

The title of Tony's paper was Budgie Smuggling and Flag Mayhem in Malaysia.

Burton gave an entertaining talk about an incident in Malaysia where nine over-exuberant Australian sports fans celebrated by stripping down to Speedos depicting the Malaysian national flag and created an international incident resulting in their arrest.

Although Malaysia is next door to Australia and Thailand, it is a predominantly Muslim nation with strict dress codes.  For instance women visiting this country are obliged to wear a head scarf, Muslim or not.  Thus you can imagine the consequences of a nearly nude Speedo flag of Malaysia display might incur.  

(additional contribution from Ted Kaye)

ICV 27 - Speaker 31: Zeljko Heimer

Zeljko's paper was entitled Historical Origins of Contemporary Croatian Municipal flags, originally given on August 11, 2017. 

Heimer showed how current Croatian Municipalsities are regulated by strict codes.  However if a municipality can show a connection to a historical flag, an exception can be made, allowing certain histoical flags to bend the strict code.

(Additional contribution by Ted Kaye)

ICV 27: Memorial Service for Whitney Smith

 
It was during the outing to the Lyndon B. Johnson library that I ended up sitting next to a friendly elderly man.  I was delighted to have a deep conversation and make human contact, since it was my first NAVA meeting; I was feeling rather lonely since I was a complete stranger to everyone.  The odd thing is that the friendly gentleman never told me his name.

The next day, the man I sat next to upon the bus gave a thoughtful presentation at the state capital, Austin, on the future of vexillology.  I then asked the person sitting next to me who that speaker was, and I was told that it was Whitney Smith.

Like in the movies when the hero puts it all together, my head spun in circles as my memories played themselves in virtual-reverse.  Little did I know, that I was sitting next to the man honored today, whose wake created this league of international vexillology. 


A small service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road, London next to Albert Hall.

The service was lead by John Hall, and several vexillologists spoke about Whitney's legacy as a professional and as a friend.

Here, the flag of Whitney Smith lays at the speakers podium.  It was a solemn service that included the song of one of Whitney Smith's favorite singers, Buddy Holly, Rain in My Heart.

This post and this blog exists here as a testament to legacy of Whitney Smith.  I am forever grateful to him and his family.

I first met Whitney at NAVA's 42nd meeting in Austin, Texas 2008 as the friendly gentleman on the bus.  At the end of the NAVA meeting, I ran into Whitney once again.  I took a photo of him holding my mock book, which you can see on the first post on this blog.

Like Smith, I'm also a fan of Buddy Holly. Coincidentally I attended a play about Buddy Holly, back in 1991, when our marching band visited London; we were selected to play at the Royal Albert Hall and march in the Westminster's New Year's Day parade.  On top of that I stayed at the dorm of Imperial College next to Albert Hall, Beit Hall.

One my favorite Buddy Holly songs is the timeless gem, Everyday 1958.

ICV 27: Flags of The World Meeting

Issues about new software were discussed.

ICV 27 - Speaker 30: Stan Zamyatin

 

Zamyatin spoke about the various county flags in Ireland with his paper County Flags of Ireland. Zamyatin noted that county colours are often more important than the heraldic icons are symbols upon the various flags.

Stan also noted that the Yew Tree is an ancient symbol of Ireland, which better represents the Emerald Isle rather than the official Oak Tree which can be confused the Oak of England.  Zamyatin pointed out that colours often have a tribal essence that go deeper than the design.  This was demonstrated with sporting flags wearing colours like tribesmen yet being of different nations. 

Zamyatin ended his presetation with a colour act by wearing flag of Portugal with a headband.