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

Greatest American Hero Flags

On March 18, 1981 a new Super Hero was born. In the aftermath of the American cultural revolution of the 60s and funk of the 70s - came the Greatest American Hero. This television show aired until the day after Ground Hog Day in 1983.

The basic jist was an unassuming well meaning special education teacher was drafted by 'higher powers' to show the world how great America could be. His name was Ralph and he reluctantly took on the role. His missteps and bumbling into the role of superhero was comical and at the same time inspirational. The team up of crusaders were a yin-yang odd couple - one guy looked like a 'swim with wales and save the earth' type while the other guy was a meat eating, gun toting, patriot.

In the first episode several flags were shown. The first scene starts with a dune buggy chase. An FBI agent is being pursued by a group of heavily armed shaved heads guys and gals. The flag on their buggies is a pennant.

The colours are black, white, and silver. Harmoniously the letters G & A are artistically combined with a sword. What does the G & A stand for? We don't know. It oddly aligns with Greatest American, minus the hero.

In the first episode two other flags shown are the US Federal Flag and the Flag of California at Whitney High, which is rumored to named after the highest peak in California, Mt. Whitney.

Flag of the misguided militant
Christians and the FBI agent who
gives Ralph the suit from another world

Long story short, Ralph is chosen to wear the outfit of the 'Greatest American Hero.' The colours of his outfit are red, white, and black. On his chest is the insignia which looks like the Chinese Character for 'middle.'
Apparently the symbol was inspired by the handle portion of a pair of scissors.

Others flags shown in the pilot episode are the US flag, and California State Flag.


Close up of California Cult Flag

Video Montage & Credits of the Greatest American Hero

Links to Greatest American Hero Fan Sites!
tgah.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cast&action=display&thread=1888

Star Wars & Greatest American Hero Fan?
Did you know Ralph was almost Luke Skywalker?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=79XY3d6-tiY&feature=related

shuttle 2010

November is Scorpio Month

Fierce animals are a common theme on flags. Birds of prey, lions, snakes, dragons, bears, bees, tigers, but what about scorpions? Is there something oddly frightening about the scorpion that no nation would put this creature on their flag. The US NAVY uses a flag with a snake! Perhaps it's the formidable and alien exoskeleton. But since November is the month of Scorpio here are two military patches that feature scorpions!

On the right is the patch of the USS SCORPION SS-278. She served in WWII in the Pacific Ocean. She took down a few Japanese ships but was herself lost in the Yellow Sea, probably by a mine. The entire crew was lost.

Official Patch of the submarine
USS SCORPION SS-278

Non-Military Commercial
Patch of RUSSIAN SCORPION

On the left is a non military patch made in honor of former Soviet Sub that has become a museum in Southern California! Odd but true, a Cold War era sub built in 1971 to intimidate and the US has become a tourist attraction at Long Beach, California.

During the Cold War another USS SCORPION was commissioned as SS-589 but was lost at sea in an accident near the Azores in 1968.

The Patch has a submarine, 50s style nuclear atom, an ancient catapult and the astrological constellation of Scorpio.

1968 was tragic year, one month after Martin Luther King was assassinated the tragic loss the entire 99 man crew of the USS SCORPION SS-589 took place on May 22, 1968.




You can learn more about the USS Scorpions
and other US Subs lost at Sea Here www.oneternalpatrol.com/

You can visit the Soviet Sub in Long Beach, California
Click here for more info www.russiansublongbeach.com/

Reservation 225

Chesapeake Bay Flag Association's Flag

Flag of the Chesapeake Bay Flag Association

There are several states that are a part of the the Chesapeake Bay. The two states maine with Chesapeake Bay bay front property are Virginia and Maryland.

The District of Columbia does not have bay front access but is a part of the tidewater region.

Finally there are the outer states that simply have rivers that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Flowing from the North is the mighty Susquehanna River. Thus Pennsylvania and New York a part of the Chesapeake Bay water shed. From the West is Delaware. Finally from heart of Appalachia, the Chesapeake is connected to West Virginia.

That is a total of six states and the District of Columbia.



You can visit the Chesapeake Bay Flag Association,
Here http://cbfa.vexillology.info/

Fort Whoop Up Flag

Flag of Fort Whoop Up?

Fort Whoop Up was an American 'speak easy' set up in Canada around 1869. Fort Whoop Up was basically an illegal fort set up in Alberta by American fungal dope dealers of alcohol. If you didn't know alcohol is a type of fungal dope, or rather fungal excrement. FYI, when yeast (a fungus) eats the sugars it can only burn it a certain way. The remainder waste product of its food (yeast poo) is excreted as alcohol. This substance has plagued and blessed mankind since the reign of Pharaohs. More potent fungal dope is known to certain shamans of Siberia, Grateful Dead fans, and Super Mario.

Yankee Traders sold a brewed Fungal Dope
to Native Canadians (1st Nations Peoples) Illegally

When Fort Whoop Up was set up in Alberta, American whisky traders set up this trading post illegally to make their fortunes. They flew a flag that had wide stripes on the bottom and thiner stripes by the canton. The canton seemed to have some shapes that were either boxes or crosses. To this day the details of this flag are unclear. However a flag of this nature did indeed fly in 1869 in Alberta.

The new Canadian government wanted to shut it down and was apprehensive. But when word got out that Mounties were coming, the rum runners gave no resistance and fled south of the border.

CLOSE UP OF WHOOP UP FLAG
(ACTUAL PHOTO)

The AVGN is a vexillographer

ames Rolfe is a Vexillographer

AVGN stands for Angry Video Game Nerd, and the AVGN
is a YouTube Star from Generation Y. Generation Y is the last generation born before the Internet that does not yet quite fit into Generation X. If you can't remember a time before the Internet you are Generation I. But also remember that Y can sometimes take the place I.

The Angry Video Game Nerd (James Rolfe) is likely to transition over from YouTube Star to famous Hollywood Movie Director in the near future. I'd put a few eggs in his basket if you seen his work.

Rolfe recently posted a video about his childhood homemade boardgames. He created a board game called Street Fighter III. In it, he designed several flags to represent characters in the game.

General Slaughter Flag

Modern Rendition

General Slaughter has five stripes with canton, assumed to be stars.



Dracula Flag

Dracula Modern Version

Dracula's Flag is simply a bat on solid background

Candy Man Flagyou can see the original name was erased with white out, or perhaps is was just a spelling error?

Nearly all children at sometime in the lives have had a desire to create a flag for some odd reason. If you see a young person drawing a flag, save it! You never know what may come of it!


You can Visit the AVGN website here: www.cinemassacre.com/

*note flag colours are assumed

No Flags in the NY Times 2011 Almanac!?

One of the most cherished introduction points that speaks to the inner vexillologist in everyone is missing in the 2011 NY Times Almanac edition!

I have always enjoyed the NY Times Almanac but they cut out one of the best parts of an almanac. Perhaps next year the maps of the world will be in black and white?

National flags change every so often, we need to know. Besides almanacs are usually the only book with flags that is always stocked in a book store! Try it go to book store and ask for a book about flags. They will either tell you" 'we can order it' or try to sell you a kiddie book with flag stickers.

A note to NY Times Almanac editor: John W. Wright. What you did was far from right.



You can visit the NY TIMES
Here www.nytimes.com/

The Coffee News & Neils Bohr

The light source for quirky fun & BIG news!


Getting things published in circulating print can be an adventure. At one end there are world famous circulating documents that have recognition by everyone like the New York Times and at the other there are small town papers, like the weekly Coffee News of Central Bucks, PA.

The Coffee News is 'FREE!' weekly one sheet paper filled with the essential elements of a newspaper: Horoscope, Good & Bad News, trivia, jokes, and quirky facts that tickles the bones of the reader. As the motto says, "News to be enjoyed over coffee." It delivers on its motto. Like the NY Times the micro-paper depends on ads to keep it afloat.

Notice that Neils Bohr is quoted in an
ancient Chinese riddle-pun tone
'what is the sound of one hand clapping?'

Volume 2:116 October 17, 2010 issue of the Coffee News had a quote from Niels Bohr. Mr. Bohr was nothing of a bore yet at times his ideas can bore high school students who care nothing of physics. Niels Bohr was a pioneer who challenged the orthodoxy of how the universe worked. He was awarded a coat of arms that features the Yin & Yang symbol, since this ancient Chinese symbol reflected many of the cosmic notions that can be found in the inner cosmos of the atom.

To the right is the coat of arms issued to a Danish scientist for his brilliant advance for understanding the ways and means of the Universe. He was given an ancient icon from long, long ago when the earth was in a different part of galaxy!

You can visit the Coffee News
Here www.CNofBC.com

Or NY Times Here
Here www.nytimes.com/

THE YIN & YANG OF A BIG NEWS PAPER
& SMALL NEWSPAPER
(both are equally IMPORTANT & live off of advertising)

The Coffee Table News - A newspaper that is actually a piece of paper!

Vexi-tension 2010

The small town of King, North Carolina has become the focal point of a vexillological controversy. Tension has erupted over the flying of the generic Christian Flag. A vigil since September 22, 2010 has arisen to protect the 'Christian Flag.'

The ACLU, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and resident of King, North Carolina filed a complaint to get it removed from a veterans memorial.

Ironically the flying of the cross on a flag was also controversial during the New England Colonial Period in the 1600s. Extreme religious 'Christian' leaders saw the cross as a symbol of the 'dreadful' pope. Thus it was removed from the New England flag and worship with crosses was banned for fear of papist influences.

However, I agree with persons on and sponsoring the flag vigil. The Christian Flag of North Carolina should be protected and flown.

Flag of Lousiana

If it is not allowed to fly, it sets a dangerous precedent. Several US State flags already have Christian symbolism on them. Louisiana has a pelican, which is a heraldic symbol of Christianity. Also the pelican is shedding its breast with three droplets of blood which reflects the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Likewise the State flag of Maryland has two red crosses which is clearly linked to the Christianity. Utah has a beehive upon it, which is a religious symbol of Mormonism.

Flags of Utah & Maryland

Also The flag of Hawaii has the Christian emblems of St. George, St. Patrick, and St. Andrew?

Finally the flags of New York and New Jersey feature the Pagan Goddess Liberity, Justice, and Ceres?

Lean More About this Story at NPR
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130736989