Donated by Mark Liss to NAVA 1988

NAYA NEWS John R.B. Szala Editor 197 Jefferson Ave. Salem, Mass. 01970

VOLUME XVII, No.2

BEDFORD FLAG

Embattled Farmer (The Minuteman)

The Bedford flag was carried by the Cornet of the Bedford Militia, Min­uteman Nathaniel Page, at the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775, the first day of the War of the Re­bellion.

This flag, which shows an armored arm, sword and cannon balls emerg­ing from the clouds of heaven, is perhaps the oldest flag still in exist­ence in the United States. The flag has an obverse and a reverse, each being

slightly different in design than the other.

The original fabric, with its pomegranate design was made of woven silk damask in Italy in about 1680 according to Mr. Franco Scala­mandre, the founder of Scalamandre Silks and the Scalamandre Silk Museum. The design was

MARCH-APRIL 1984

304 YEARS OLD

then painted on this intricately woven silk material. Where and when this was painted and finished into a flag is still a matter of speculation and research.

The words on the flag "Vince aut Morire" are Latin, meaning "Conquer or Die."

It was an English banner in its early years. The original flag - the only one carried by the

Minutemen at the battle - is preserved in the· Bedford Free Public Library, Bedford, Mas­sachusetts, and can be seen between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 3:45 P.M., Monday thru Friday. It is this flag of which Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard 'round the world.

A number of silk reproductions have been made by Mr. Scalamandre in the 1970's. He believes that because of the physical evidence still apparent in the original fabric, the flag was approximately 100 years old at the start of the American Revol ution.

NOTES from Grace Rogers Cooper NAVA President

We have all wondered, "What happened to NAVA News?" One of the big problems with this association is one of logistics. We are very far apart, and we can't just jump in the car and run across town to pick up or deliver an item for the "News." Some were a little slow delivering the. needed data from NAVA 17; con­sequently although John Szala had the issue all ready to go to press in November there was a delay. We must do better next year supplying the needed information. This is always one of the most important issues as it carries to the entire membership the proceedings of the Annual Meeting. Because of this it is doubly important that it contains this information. Until you have held each and every office in NAVA, it is difficult to understand the amount of work involved. The more that members participate, by taking their turn serving in an office, the more we will all appreciate the amount of work there is to be done. Think about it and if you are willing to devote the time, offer your name to the Nominating Committee during the coming months. Share the load. For myself, I never realized how important it was to pay my NAVA dues in January until I was Treasurer. It is very important; dues pay the bills.- Have you paid your 1984 dues? Don't wait for a reminder ... pay them now. Treasurer, John Hartivigsen, 4214 South 3920 W, West Valley City, Utah 84120. Amount, same as last year.

The International Congress of Vexillology (XI) will be held in Madrid, Spain, during the last week of May 1985. An information brochureaboutthe Congress will be included with a future issue of NAVA News. For all who have been looking for a good excuse to go to Spain ... here it is. And for the many who know and love Spain, we know you will want to take this opportunity to return.

We hope with this issue you will be receiving a copy of the updated NAVA membership list of names and addresses. I initiated this list in December, but it was necessary to circulate it to both the Secretary and the Treasurer in an effort to make it as up-to-date as possible. Many of the names do not show the area of interest. If this is missing it is because we do not have it in our records. We would like to know if you would care to share it with us. It would be good if we could share information with fellow members with common interest. Or, possibly, in some geographical locations there may be enough members to get together once in a while for "Vexillological times" between Annual meetings. Let us know if you do. NAVA News would like to report your activities.

The necessary lead time for each Issue is about two months; send along items of interest to Editor, John Szala; he appreciates and would like your help, Send your complaints and your suggestions for improving NAVA to me. We want to hear from you and we want to make this the best Vexillological Association it can be. ,

Page 2 NAVA NEWS/MARCH-APRIL 1984

VEXILLOLOGICAL CARTOONS

L-____________ . _________________ ~ ________ ~

from: USA TODA Y 8 February 1984

Bv David Seavey. USA TODAY

A TALLIT ON THE FLAGPOLE

The flag of Israel was adopted by the new state in October 1948, but the design was first used at the First Zionist Con­gress held in Basle, Switzer­land in 1897, David Wolffsohn, wrlO worked out the design, gave this account of the birth of the flag:

"What flag would we hang? ... Then an idea struck me. We have a flag - and it is blue and white, The tallit with which we wrap ourselves when we pray . , . Let us take this tallit from its bag and unroll it before the eyes of Israel and of all na­tions. So I ordered a blue and white flag with the Shield of David painted upon it. That is how our national flag ... came into being,"

{

ALAND New Scandinavian Country

- --~ - - .-

ALAND BACKGROUND INFORMATION Aland Is lin autonomous province of Finland. Almost all of the

22,000 Islanders have Swedish as their native lanluale. Made up of 6554 Islands, Aland hal been settled since prehistoric times. Durlnl the Vlklnl era It wall one of the most densely populated areas In Scandinavia and Its tradlnl contracts extended all far as the Middle East end Ireland.

Streteclcally located between Finland and Sweden, Aland has a'· ways attracted Ireat Interest from these nelghborlnl countries. By tradition Alander's wanted to belonl to Sweden but various political and military factors dictated that Aland was to have Finnish rule. Aland Is an autonomous province with constitutional luarantees for the residents' Swedish IanlUllle and cultural customs.

Aland Is a demilitarized zone and citizens are exempt from service In the Finnish Armed Forces. Thanks to Its autonomous status Aland Is a place apart, an Island with a citizenship who take ereat pride In their separate and special statUI. As a symbol of Its autonomy a na­tional flal was mede official In 1954. In 1984 Aland will Issue Its flm postage stamps.

~hank yOU . .... Phil Allen, Nicholas A. Artimovich II, William Becker, George C. Cahill, William C. Cassell, Grace Rogers Cooper, E. H. Eaton, Robert S. Gauron, A. Zach Hirsch, Jr., Don Klett, J.M. Marill, John Mokler, John M. Purcell, Woody Ridgway, Whitney Smith, Charles A. Szychowski, Henry Untermeyer, and Sheppard Wahnon ... for taking the time to submit items of interest for possible use in future issues of NAVA NEWS.

Bob Walsh helps Melanie Me Vie of Lynn Woods School raise a new flag in Lynn after she won the city's Step-Up-With Lynn poster contest: from: Sunday Post, Lynn

3 July 1983

AMERICA'S "SHOE CITY" FLIES FLAG TO PROJECT NEW IMAGE

STEP UP WITH LYNN, INC., City Hall, Rm. 315, Lynn, Mass. 01901, is a non-profit corporation established as a cooperative effort of the public and private sectors to promote the good image and to foster the revitalization of the City of Lynn. As part of its promotional activities, a special flag has been designed and can be seen flying on public property and outside business establishments.

The field of the flag is white with a border of blue. The logo in the center is also in blue.

law Barring Flag Burning Is Challenged

A mas arrested for attempting last month to burn a Soviet flag in front of the Russian chancery in Washington, D.C. has challenged the constitutionality of a city law that bars acts that reflect on the reputations of foreign governments.

Raymond D. Battocchi, attorney for Floyd Brown, 22, vice chairman of the conservative Young Ameri­cans for Freedom, told D.C. Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Alprin that the law violates First Amendment rights to free speech. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Lawrence asserted that the statute is necessary for the U.S. government's conduct of foreign affairs.

Under the misdemeanor law, Brown could be sentenced to 60 days and fined $100. No trial date has been set, and Alprin scheduled further arguments on the constitutional issue.

NAVA NEWS/MARCH-APRIL 1984 Page 3

NAVA 18 Convention Committee

Program Chairman Phil Allen 2229 - 8th St., Apt. D BERKELEY, CA 94710 (415) 843-1625

Publicity Chairman Assistant Program Chairman Nick Artimovich II 6260 Light Point Place Circle COLUMBIA, MD 21045 (301) 997-8684

NAVA 18 Chairman Doreen Braverman 2081 West 4th Avenue VANCOUVER, B.C. V6J 1 N3 (604) 736-5536

Assistant Program Chairman Assistant Public Relations Chairman Jim Brown 3515 Handley Cres. PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. V3B 2Y4 (604) 941-5890

President, NAVA Grace Cooper Route 9 West GREAT CACPON, WV 25422 (309) 947-7622

Convention Facilities Chairman General Dick Danby 2169 - 171st St. SURREY, B.C. V6B-5E7 (604) 536-0172

Post-Convention Chairman Michael Halleran 1711 Duchess St. No 8 VICTORIA, B.C. V8R 4W2 (604) 598-5883

Registrar & Hospitality Chairman Kathy Kew 3693 St. Thomas PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. V3B 2Y9 (604) 941-2748

Membership Chairman Lynn' Knights 901 West 4th St. DIXON, IL 61021 (815) 284-2126

Secretary Betty Lee 2081 West 4th Avenue VANCOUVER, B.C. V6J 1 N3 (604) 736-5536

North American Vexillological Association Oaks, PA 19456

Ground Transportation Chairman Alvin E. Stubbe 5390 Grove Ave. DELTA, B.C. V4K 2A7 (604) 946-7421

Editor, NAVA News Rev. John R.B. Szala 197 Jefferson Avenue SALEM, MA 01970 (617)" 744-6190

Vancouver Presentations Chairman Rob Watt c/o The Vancouver Museum 1100 Chestnut Street VANCOUVER, B.C. V6J 3J9 (604) 736-4431

Special Guests/ Protocol Chairman F. J. Whitcraft West Coast Marine Brokers Box 8960 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6B 4E2 (604) 324-7661

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Oaks, PA

Permit No.9

Address Correction Requested Return Postage Guaranteed

The North American Vexillological Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the pro­motion of vexillology, the scientific and scholarly study of flag history and symbolism. Its members include men and women in all fields of vexillology and life professions.

MAR~ A. LISS D/B/A HER 1 T AGE FLAG CO.· P. O. BOX 31521

NAVA does not involve itself with projects concerning the patriotic promotion of any flag.

Page 4 NAVA NEWS/MARCH-APRIL 1984

HOUSTON, TX 77231

NAVA 18 OCTOBER

5 6 7

1984

You a~e invited •••

to 4ubmit a de4ign

6o~ con~ide~ation and

P044ible U4e a4 the

NAVA 18 6.f.ag.

* All entries should be sent to:

MRS. DOREEN BRAVERMAN 2081 WEST 4TH AVENUE VANCOUVER, B.C. V6J IN3 CANADA

* Deadline - the end of April

V A NCO U V E R ---------

insert NAVA NEWS Marcb-April 1984