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.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 4th Presenation by John M. Hartvigsen, USA

Day 1 - Speaker #6
USA - Utah

Corrected Utah State flag with a
white shield and sensibly placed dates

The fourth presentation was given by John M. Hartvigsen and was entitled Utah's Adoption of Two Legislative Measures Affecting the Utah State Flag.

Hartvigsen gave us a birds eye view on the long process upon his discovery that the Utah State had been incorrectly designed 89 years. Hartvigsen made his discovery when he found the original spreadsheet on the Utah State flag back in 1985. Hartvigsen then made several attempts to relay his discovery to the public and state legislators - to no avail. Hartvigsen would have to wait 25 years until his discovery had an effect.

Due to the 100th anniversary of the official adoption of Utah State flag, interest in the flag rekindled. Subsequently Hartvigsen was able to reassert the correct design of the Utah State flag - and strike vexi-gold by playing a role in changing a state flag.

Additionally the first governors flag was created in 1903. It was later adopted as the state flag on March 9, 1911. It was later 'lost' for some time but rediscovered in in 2010, coincidentally one year before the 100th year of its official adoption in 1911.

It seems original error occurred in 1922 when a flag manufacture misplaced the position of 1847. From about 1922 unto 2010 the state flag of Utah was based on a 'flag mutation.' Hartvigsen discovered this mistake in 1985, but nobody cared until 25 years later.

In the end Hartvigsen said that, "Vexillology is a patient pursuit. "

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 3rd Presenation by Geoff Parsons & Michael Faul, UK

Day 1 - Speakers 4 & 5
UNITED KINGDOM



The third presentation was another duo shared between Geoff Parsons & Michael Faul. The title of their presentation was British Royal Standards 1199-Present.

The presentation was a grand overview of Coat of Arms held by British Royalty. Starting from William I (1066-1087) unto today, including the banners for the Duke of Cambridge Prince William of Whales and Prince Henry of Wales. Flags of other Royal Family members were also included.

Afterwards I asked Parsons if they had yet designed a flag or mark of cadence for a would be great-grandson or great-granddaughter of the queen. Reason being it is quite possible that Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge could soon become a father while Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is still on the throne. Parsons informed that such a topic has yet to be discussed.

UK Banner Short

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 2nd Presentation by Gwen Spicer & Alexandra Deutsch, USA

Day 1 - Speakers #2 & #3
USA - New York & Maryland

Gwen Spicer & Alexandra Deutsch

The second presentation was a duo - Gwen Spicer & Alexandra Deutsch. The title of their presentation was The Treatment of the 4th Regiment U.S.C.T. Civil War Flag. Spicer is an expert in flag restoration.

The presenatation began with a quote from Fredrick Douglas and acknowledged the excitement in US Civil War flags due to the 150th anniversary.

The talk focused on the preservation of flags saved and carried by an African American - Christian Fleetwood 1840-1914. Fleetwood received the medal of honor for his actions. Fleetwood "Seized the colors, after 2 color bearers had been shot down, and bore the nobly though the fight."

Christian Fleetwood

Christian Fleetwood was educated as a free black in Baltimore during the Civil War Era. Baltimore had the largest 'free' African American population at this time. Fleetwood attained the highest rank for 'colored' troops as a Sergeant Major.

It was also explained that the white portion of older flags is often in the poor condition because of the extensive chemical treatment to get a solid white colour. The preservation process was extensively discussed.

ICV 24 - International Congress of Vexillology, Day 1 - 1st Presentation by Dale Grimes Jr. USA

Day 1 - Speaker #1
USA - Maryland

Last month the 24th International Congress of Vexillology was held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. On the first day, August 1 there were eight lectures.

The first speaker was Dale Grimes, Jr. who primary occupation is teaching math. His presentation was entitled Two Famous American Flags.

Grimes selected two flags from American history that are perhaps the most well remembered. One was flown during the War of 1812 and the other during WWII.

The first flag of national fame was the 15 stars and 15 striped Star Spangled Banner which flew over Ft. McHenry when the British Invaded Maryland and Washington DC. This story associated with this flag lead to the creation of National Anthem. He also detailed the overlooked battle of North Point that took place on September 12, 1814.

Grimes holding up a 48 stared US Navy Flag

The second flag of conspicuous fame was the flown over Iwo Jima during the Pacific Campaign of WWII. This flag has 13 stripes and 48 stars. It was raised while the fighting raged on February 23, 1945. The photo of this flag raising had become a lasting icon of this conflict.

Grimes also introduced the Grimes' Remnant Indicator Formula - R.I.F.

X/Y

X= A flag's current dimensions (hoist length x fly length)
Y= A flags original dimensions (hoist length x fly length)

Grimes' notes on the
flag makers shorthand

Grimes also noted that many flags from WWII were made on Mayer Island, which was also the 1st Pacific Naval Base for the United States. During the WWII, Mayer Island had over 46,000 employees. If you ever see a letters 'MI' printed along hoist edge it most likely referring to Mayer Island in California and not Michigan.

Kerguelen Islands Flag Proposal

Proposed Flag of the Kerguelen

Hidden between the Indian and Antarctic Ocean lies the lonesome, quiet, and rainy Kerguelen Islands. Out of all the lands awoken to Europe, this land was of the few to be truly discovered.

America, Africa, Asia, and Australia have been home to mankind for thousands of years before the modern 'Age of Exploration.' But Kerguelen is a unique find found by France. It was found during a February Summer in 1772 under the guidance of Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Teremac. Coincidentally Kerguelen was discovered two months before the 'discovery' of Easter Island.

Portrait of Yves-Joseph
TRUE DISCOVERER OF A NEW WORLD

Captain Cook, Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Leif Ericson, and William Janszoon did not discover any new lands or continents. Rather they permanently awoke European Civilization to these lands.* However a Breton from France can truly claim to have discovered a 'New World' during the Age of Exploration.


Although Yves was a French national he was ethnically a Breton. The Bretons were of the earliest inhabitants to the British Isles - who lived there before the arrival of Rome and Anglo-Saxons tribes. The Bretons are a apart of the Six Celtic Nations- that includes Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man. Coincidentally the latitude of the Kerguelen Islands is at a converse latitude of Brittany - 49 degrees north to 49 degrees south.


The proposed flag for Kerguelen employs three colours - black, white, and orange. It is a tri-colour in honor of France. Instead of red, orange is used to denote a Celtic connectivity to Ireland. Furthermore orange is considered by some a hue of red - linking it back to France. The black bar by the hoist is reflective of Brittany, as is the central white bar with the black animal fur symbol. It is the fur of an ermine, which is a key symbol tied to Brittany. The colours reflect the aboriginal bi-pedal birds that colonized this land long before mankind could read or write - the penguins.


Due to Kerguelen's remoteness and lack of light pollution - it is an astronomical wonderland and biological reserve. But like Australia and the Galapagos the introduction of non-native species has been detrimental to many native plants and species.

*Lief Ericson did not permanently awake European Civilization to the 'Americas,' rather Christopher Columbus permanently awoke Europe to the Americas. The Vikings gave up on their 'American' colonies and forgot all about it, until some time after 1492.

Flag of Easter Island & Greenland or rather Rapa Nui & Kalaallit Nunaat

Flag of Kalaallit Nunaat

Greenland is a part of Denmark
"SUN" like icon

There are two famous semi-autonomous 'nations' that strike similar colours from opposite ends of the earth on rival oceans. Alone in the South Eastern Pacific is the famous isle of Easter Island, and on the edges of the North Western Atlantic is the grand and vast isle of Greenland.

Both islands have recruited the colours red and white to symbolize their identity. The flag of Kalaallit Nunaat retains the national colours of Denmark - red and white. It is basically an off centered disc that has a counter charge on itself with the background. This design is intuitively reflective of the extreme solar shift between winter and summer. Much of Greenland has a single winter night that lasts three months while a single summer day can last three months. Greenland is home of the famous Midnight Sun in June and in the winter the High Noon Midday Moon.


Flag of Rapa Nui
Easter Island is a part of Chile
"MOON" like icon

At another end of the earth the colours of Rapa Nui echo of red and white. The background is white, and the crescent shaped emblem is a type of jewelry usually worn by women that is based upon the native canoe of Easter Islanders. This flag was formally adopted on May 6, 2006. Twenty one years earlier the flag of Greenland was adopted on June 21, 1985.

Example of a Rapa Nui Canoe Pendant

The histories of Easter Island and Greenland and long and vast, but their unbroken modern period of written history begins at about the same time. On July 3, 1721 the Norwegian Hans Egede landed on Greenland to reestablish a 300 year old land claim. Less than a year later on Eastern Sunday April 5, 1722 the Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen awoke the world to Easter Island while Rapa Nui was awoken to the greater world around themselves.

Greenland Children with flag

However neither the Dutch nor Norwegian were to hold a permanent claim to these ancient isles of extremes. Before the 1800s the nationhood of Greenland and Easter Island was not certain. In the end Denmark and Chile were entrusted to guard over these pearls of the Pacific and Atlantic. Easter Island was annexed by Chile on September 9, 1888, and Greenland's attachment to Denmark was sealed in the 1814 treaty of Kiel.

Easter Islanders in protest with flags

US interest in these islands started only after WWII. Greenland was occupied by USA during WWII when Denmark fell to Nazi Germany. In 1946 Greenland flirted with US to become a proverbial 51st state, for 100 million dollars. But Denmark refused, but the Danes allowed the US to establish Thule Air Base as a part of AFSC - short for Air Force Space Command. Coincidentally Easter Island was graced by the space age in the 1980s. Easter Island became an emergency Space Shuttle Landing site.

The Inuit and Rapa Nui people are ancient cousins on a world that is a world a part. They have both left memorable marks on these islands and our world. They have enchanting stories to tell. No doubt their story of survival before the modern era is an epic chapter our communal heritage and history that all nations can understand.

As we come face to face with resource limited world, perhaps these islands can teach us a thing or two.

Two world famous stone monoliths
The Moai of Easter Island and Inuksuk of Greenaland