nava news, 2009 (oct-dec), no. 204nava news 204 (issn 1053-3338), oct.-dec. 2009, vol. 42, no. 4...

NO. 204 OCT.—DEC. 2009

NAVANews

www.nava.org

The Quarterly Newsletterof the North AmericanVexillological Association

NAVA 43 meets inCharleston, S.C.

Page 2

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE . . .

Half Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Whitney Smith Honored. . . . . . . . . . . 6New Flags: Bolivar, East Ridge. . . . . . 7International Flag of Language . . . . . 8Russian Regional Flags . . . . . . . . . . . 9The Titanic’s Ensign . . . . . . . . . . . 10Member Flags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

A tribute in sculpture to the U.S. flag atSouth Carolina’s Brookgreen Gardens.

conduct this hard look with full consideration of yourthoughts, concerns, and aspirations for NAVA. Your boardhas both the legal and moral duty to always act with undi-vided allegiance to, and in the best interests of, NAVA.Preparing NAVA for its next five decades fulfills this duty.

NAVA’s future, in any event, rests in your hands. Your con-tribution of your time and your talents is both welcome andneeded. I would again encourage you to commit to a simplegoal of recruiting one new member or contributing a shortitem to NAVA News over the next year. And if you’ve gotmore time on your hands, there are plenty of tasks associat-ed with both annual meetings and publications, among oth-ers, to fill that time. As I noted last year, we must harnessthe unique and, in many cases, incomparable knowledge andtalents of each member to “keep NAVA as a young anddynamic organization despite our longevity of existence”.

I am keenly aware of the challenges ahead and I believewe are capable of meeting them. I am reminded often thatthe central charge on the NAVA president’s flag, theCheyenne Indian Woheiv star, symbolizes hope and guidance.It is my hope that I will provide both in the coming year.

HUGH BRADYPRESIDENT

FROM THE PRESIDENT

NAVA’s NextFive DecadesFriends:

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your presi-dent. It is a privilege to be entrusted with leading NAVA andI am grateful for your confidence. Thank you also for theable and willing board to serve alongside with in the comingyear.

The annual meeting in Charleston was both delightful and“fact-full”. The setting was appropriate and comfortable, thepresenters were articulate and entertaining, and the food

was delicious. It was especially niceto see several new members and first-time attendees and learn more abouttheir vexillological interests. I’m sorrymore of you couldn’t join us in SouthCarolina. Perhaps we’ll see you in LosAngeles next year?

Turning now to the traditional topic for a re-elected officer,I’d like to discuss the future of NAVA. Just like business andeconomic cycles, nonprofit organizations like NAVA havetheir own lifecycle. Scholars characterize the stages in thecycle differently, but it seems that the average nonprofit life-cycle has five stages, each with a central question:

1. Imagine and Inspire, or “can the dream be realized?”2. Found and Frame, or “how are we going to pull this

off?”3. Ground and Grow, or “how can we build this to be

viable?”4. Produce and Sustain, or “how can the momentum be

sustained?”5. Review and Renew, or “what do we need to redesign or

reinvent?”I believe NAVA is in the fifth stage. Now in its fifth

decade, NAVA faces a serious challenge in membership num-bers that are, quite frankly, stagnant with little year-to-yeargrowth. The average age of the membership is increasing aswell. While vexillology occupies a smaller niche among thevast number of interests out there, I think that we probablyhaven’t reached our maximum potential membership. Wemust take a hard look at every aspect of NAVA and ask howit furthers our primary purpose of promoting the study offlags. And we must continue those programs and servicesthat work, improve, or end those that don’t, and create newones to fill unmet needs.

Over the coming year, I will ask the board how best to

NAVA NewsPETER A. ANSOFF, EDITOR

HUGH L. BRADY, EDWARD B. KAYE,JOHN A. LOWE, DAVID B. MARTUCCI

EDITORIAL BOARD

North American Vexillological AssociationFOUNDED 1967

A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS

HUGH L. BRADY, PRESIDENTGUSTAVO TRACCHIA, FIRST VICE PRESIDENTANNE M. PLATOFF, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

WILLIAM J. TRINKLE, SECRETARYEDWARD B. KAYE, TREASURER

NAVA News 204 (ISSN 1053-3338), Oct.-Dec. 2009, Vol. 42, No. 4

Published quarterly by North American Vexillological Association,

1977 N. Olden Ave. Ext., PMB 225, Trenton, NJ 08618-2193.

A benefit of NAVA membership. Articles, letters, and inquiries about

rates and permissions may be sent to the editorial office.

Editorial Office: NAVA News Editor, 1977 N. Olden Ave. Ext. PMB 225,

Trenton, NJ 08618-2193. [email protected]

Address Changes: Send address changes to NAVA News, 1977 N.

Olden Ave. Ext., PMB 225, Trenton, NJ 08618-2193, or to

[email protected]. Members can also update their address in the

Members-Only section of www.nava.org.

© 2009 North American Vexillological Association. All rights reserved.

Views expressed are those of individual authors and may not repre-

sent the views of NAVA, its officers, or the editor.

HUGHBRADY

Contact Hugh Brady: [email protected]

Notice of MeetingsNAVA 44: Plans are under way to hold NAVA 44(2010) in the Los Angeles area. To help, contactNAVA secretary Bill Trinkle at [email protected] ICV/NAVA 45: NAVA and the ChesapeakeBay Flag Association will host the 24thInternational Congress of Vexillology 1-5 August2011 in the Washington, D.C. area in conjunctionwith NAVA 45. To help, contact Peter Ansoff [email protected].

NAVA News · No. 204 · October-December 2009 · 1

HALF STAFF

Gerd Vehres,German Society President

Our fellow NAVA mem-ber and colleague GerdVehres died 7 October2009 at age 68 after ashort illness.

A career diplomatwith the former EastGermany (he served asambassador to Hungary,among many posts),after German reunifica-tion Gerd served as aninsurance executive andpursued his interest inflags. He and his wifeSteffi attended manyflag meetings together.She died in 2007.

He was president of theDeutsche Gesellschaft fürFlaggenkunde, the GermanVexillological Society. Heattended NAVA 38 inIndianapolis in 2004 andmany international congresses of vexillology—hechaired the organizing committee for 22 ICV inBerlin in 2007.

At the Yokohama flag congress in July (abovephoto), he proudly distributed copies of the Berlinproceedings, delivered in record time.

Dr. Whitney Smith recalled Gerd, saying,“Most of all, we honor the wonderful spirit ofcooperation among vexillologists and his heartyconviviality that spread everywhere he went.”

Tom Montgomery

Former NAVA and Royal Heraldry Society ofCanada member Tom Montgomery died on10 July 2009. After retiring from a 33-year careerin the Canadian Navy in 1991, he and his wifeGeorgina became the proprietors of the Flag Shopin Ottawa, Ontario. They also attended NAVA 26in San Antonio, Texas. Anyone who met Tomadmired his gregarious, friendly character and hiswillingness to help anyone with theirflag needs.

Gerd Vehres 1941-2009

New Members for 2009The Executive Board thanks those who renewedtheir membership during the past year, andwelcomes these new members for 2009:

Mr. Jalal Aldoseri, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UKMr. Michael Alexander (The Flag Desk),

Wilmette, IllinoisMr. Maikel Arista-Salado, Miami, FloridaMrs. Liz Baumgart (Bob’s Flags), Pineville, N.C.Mr. John Beck, Leesburg, VirginiaMr. Philip Boerstler, Wichita, KansasMr. Spencer Brewer, Nortonville, KentuckyMr. Steve Cates (Carrot-Top), Hillsborough, N.C.Mr. Devin Cook, Sacramento, CaliforniaMr. Eugene Giudice, Chicago, IllinoisDr. Marshall Goldberg, Portland, OregonMr. Jim Grossfeld, Bethesda, MarylandMr. Hassan Kamel-Kelisli-Morali,San Antonio, TexasMr. Christopher Kunch, Schererville, IndianaMr. Ian Ross Latham, Atlanta, GeorgiaMr. Max Liberman, Portland, OregonMr. Peter A. Loeser, Laytonville, CaliforniaMr. Michael Marino, Providence, Rhode IslandMr. Kyle K. Morrison, Hazelwood, MissouriDr. David Moshier, Washington, D.C.Mr. Cynthia O'Neal (US Flag Supply),

Jacksonville, FloridaSr. Juan Danilo Ormeño-Cofre, Santiago, ChileMr. Richard Reczka, Newton, New JerseyMr. Brent Robben, Denver, ColoradoMr. Andreas Saur (Promex GmbH),

Konstanz, Baden-Württemburg, GermanyMr. Clyde Simpson, Cleveland, OhioMr. Dennis Sullivan, Natural Bridge, New YorkMaster Sam Thomas, Somerville, MassachusettsMr. Ross Tweedale, North Vancouver, B.C.Mr. David Ullin, Utica, MichiganMr. Peter Hans Van den Muijzenberg,

Sneek, Friesland, The NetherlandsMr. Scott Wallace, Papillion, NebraskaMr. Steve Winters (Historical Americana Co.),

Acworth, GeorgiaMs. Eden G. Woldepoulo, Falls Church, VirginiaMr. David Yáñez, San Antonio, Texas

2 · October-December 2009 · No. 204 · NAVA News

NAVA 43 Charleston, S.C. 2009In the venerable structure of the original

Military College ofSouth Carolina, the1826 Citadel building(now an EmbassySuites Hotel), NAVAmembers convenedfor their 43rd annualmeeting in Charleston9-11 October.

During their three days in the historic citythey toured important sites, viewed outstandingflag collections, heard interesting lectures, andenjoyed one another’s company.

Events began with optional tours to FortSumter, where the Civil War began in 1861, and

to the current Citadelcampus to see theflags and “best freeshow in town”: thecadets’ Friday dressparade. On Fridayevening they enjoyeda “vexi-bits” dinner ata local restaurant,where they sharedflags and stories.

After the openingceremonies and lec-tures Saturday morn-ing, NAVA members

walked Charleston’s Museum Mile in unsea-sonable heat. Three important institutionsopened their doors and flag collections—theCharleston Museum, the Washington LightInfantry Armory, and the Confederate Mus-eum. Attendees hadthe opportunity toview flags unavail-able to the public.

The CharlestonMuseum, America’sfirst museum, datesfrom 1773 andshowcases the cul-tural and naturalhistory of SouthCarolina’s Lowcountry. The Washington LightInfantry, founded in 1807, is one of America’soldest militia units. Its Armory’s historical mili-tary collections feature uniforms, weapons,accoutrements, and flags, including theRevolutionary-era Eutaw Flag.The ConfederateMuseum, in the1841 Market Hall,has been operat-ed since 1898 bythe UnitedDaughters of theConfederacy.

Saturday

Cadets parade at The Citadel.

Marilyn Hichborn and “vexi-bit”.

Major Neal Moore points out the Eutaw Flagin the Washington Light Infantry Armory’s Relic Room.

Director June Murray Wells describesflags in the Confederate Museum.

Curator Jan Hiester shares special flagsat the Charleston Museum.

The Old Citadel, now a hotel


evening’s ban-quet, in thehotel’s elegantatrium, hostedover 60 peoplewith a typicalLowcountrybuffet. DickSchreadley,retired execu-tive editor ofthe Post and

Courier, Charleston’s daily newspaper since1803, spoke on the history of the WashingtonLight Infantry and the Eutaw Flag—one of thevery few flags that can be traced to the battle-

fields of the American Revolution, and whichNAVA 43 attendees saw earlier that day at theWLI Armory. All attending past NAVA presi-dents joined in awarding honorary NAVA mem-bership to Dr. Whitney Smith (see page 6).

On Sunday, during the NAVA businessmeeting, the board’s officers were re-elected, a

2010 budgetwas adopted,and the elect-ed andappointed offi-cers madetheir reports.After morepresentations,

attendees enjoyed a lengthy ”vexi-bits” session,where NAVA members shared flags and infor-mation in a less-structured way, and an auctionwhich raised several hundred dollars forNAVA. After the closing ceremonies, NAVA’sboard met and those remaining in Charlestondined together Sunday evening.

While the Cuban delegates were not able toattend at the last minute, NAVA first VP GusTracchia read their presentations. In all, tenpresentations were heard. The Driver Awardwent to Prof. Scot Guenter for his JuxtaposingSymbols in Civil Religion: The Lady and theFlag, with a rare honorable mention to PeterAnsoff for Flags of the State Navies in theRevolutionary War.

Many participants hailed the meeting as oneof the best they’d attended. Southern hospitali-ty delivered a very positive experience for all.

NAVA 43 PHOTOS (Pages 2-6) BY TED KAYE

Banquet speaker Dick Schreadley.

Saturday’s banquet in the Atrium

Dean Thomas lectures on New Zealand ensigns.

Annie Platoff and BillTrinkle in the business

meeting.

NAVA members convene for the annual business meeting.


NAVA 43 especiallythanks:

Advertising Flag Company for supply-ing the large meeting flags,Annin & Company for producing thetable flags,National Flags (Australia) for creatingthe flag patches,Promex GmbH (Germany) for makingthe NAVA 43-South Carolina flag pins,Hugh Brady for sponsoring and prepar-ing the welcome packets, &John Hood for researching and printingthe personalized flag name tags;

Hosting institutions: the CharlestonMuseum, The Citadel, theConfederate Museum, & theWashington Light Infantry;

Organizers: NAVA’s Executive Board,Peter Ansoff, & Dr. David Heisser;

and commercial members of NAVA forunderwriting the 2008-09 Driver Award: The Bear Flag Museum, JeffBridgman American Antiques, CRWFlags, Dixie Flag Mfg., The Flag Guys,The Flag Shop, Gettysburg FlagWorks, Herold Flags, PreservationDesigns, Six-Sided Simulations, TMECo., & Vexman Consulting.

Flags of the State Navies in theRevolutionary War Peter Ansoff

The Presidential Flag of CubaMaikel Arista Salado

Rank Flags of CubaAvelino Couceiro Rodriguez

Juxtaposing Symbols in CivilReligion: The Lady and the FlagScot Guenter

Redesigning the Oregon State Flag—A Case StudyTed Kaye

Flag Symmetry of the USAChristopher Maddish

Soviet Children's FlagsAnnie Platoff

Quilts as FlagsWhitney Smith

Ensigns of New ZealandDean Thomas

The Rainbow Flag of the IncasGustavo Tracchia

NAVA 43 PRESENTATIONS

Bea Jones shares the African-American flag with two locals. NAVA officer flags outside the NAVA 43 meeting rooms.


1 Stan Mottaz2 Sarah Strange3 John Purcell4 Jack Lowe5 Peter Ansoff6 Scot Guenter7 Carlos Arias8 Henry Moeller9 Gil Vegas10 Barbara Moeller11 Mark Ritzenhein12 Stephen Wilensky

13 Dennis Moore14 Cindy Williams15 Annette Jackson16 Al Cavalari17 David Breitenbach18 Kevin Harrington19 Ed Jackson20 Annie Platoff21 Debbie Kaye21 Hal Hichborn22 Peter Turek23 Michael Platoff

24 Whitney Smith25 Bernie Couture26 Bill Trinkle27 Marlene Little28 Bea Jones29 James Ritchie30 Terri Malgieri32 Marilyn Hichborn33 Gus Tracchia34 Christopher Maddish35 Hugh Brady36 Stephanie Farrington37 Joanne Couture38 Dean Thomas39 Maureen Thomas40 Kevin Murray41 Baron Fain42 Kathryn Libby43 David Heisser44 Dick Libby45 Bobbi Neufer-Kling46 Roy McGinnis47 Ted Kaye48 Kathy Marcello49 Richard Kelchner50 Eleanor Kelchner

Not pictured: Jason Brooke,Trish Dunkerley, ShawnGackenbach, Karen Lowe, Rich Monahan, Janie Moore

NAVA Secretary Bill Trinkle’s directancestor, Christopher Trinkle,

fought in the 1st Virginia Regt. atthe Battle of Eutaw Springs.

Harbor Entrance Control Post,Charleston’s Ft. Moultrie, ca. 1944.

The flags of South Carolina,Charleston, and NAVA 43.


Former NAVA president John M. Purcell delivered this tribute toWhitney Smith as NAVA’s board bestowed Honorary Memberand first-ever President Emeritus status on its founder duringNAVA 43.

I rather imagine that there’s not muchI need to tell this audience about our hon-oree, Dr. Whitney Smith. You all know himas the scholar responsible for the creationof our discipline, vexillology, not only forcoining the word itself, but as the impetusfor the creation of NAVA, FIAV, and a con-sultant in the creation of a number of othervexillological associations around theworld.

You may not know that besides thefounding of the well respected FlagBulletin, now in its 46th year of publication,and some 500 articles in print elsewhere, aswell as several flag charts, Whitney has 27books to his credit, of which Flags throughthe Ages and across the World stands as hismost widely admired work.

There is no dispute that Whitney is, byspending his adult life as a working vexil-lologist, researching, and writing, the epito-me in the world of flags. He has done it all,traveling to more than 50 countries to doresearch, lecture, or offer advice on flagdesign. When any of us think about the

history of vexillolo-gy, the first namethat comes to mindis naturally that ofWhitney Smith. Hisscholarship and hishard work for thediscipline he lovesstands as a modelfor us all, and willinspire generationsof vexillologists tocome.

In 1992, NAVAestablished the“Whitney Award” inhis honor, for out-standing contributions to North Americanvexillology. Tonight, as one more gesture ofappreciation for Whitney’s immense contri-butions to the world of vexillology, NAVA’sboard bestows on him yet another well-deserved award, the rarely-grantedHonorary Membership. We look forward toWhitney’s future contributions that we arecertain are forthcoming, and I am sure youwill join me in extending our sincere con-gratulations to an esteemed colleague andgood friend.

Thank you.

Whitney SmithHonored by NAVA

NAVA presidents Scot Guenter (1991-94), John Purcell (1981-83),Hugh Brady (2008- ), Peter Ansoff (2004-08), and

Whitney Smith (1967-77) at NAVA 43 in Charleston, S.C.

Dr. Whitney Smith

Dr. Smith examines flag information displayed at theWashington Light Infantry Armory in Charleston, S.C.


NEW FLAGS

Bolivar, West Virginia

Two years after its adoption by the towncouncil of Bolivar (pop. 1,074), residentTodd Metzgar’s flag first flew in a VeteransDay ceremony in November 2009. It willfly continuously in front of the town hallunder the U.S. flag. Metzgar, who makeshis living as a graphic designer, searchedfor elements and events that highlightBolivar’s heritage. “The challenge was incompiling these various elements into oneflag to represent the past, as well as pres-ent ideals which we all cherish.”

Blue and gold in the border are WestVirginia’s official colors. The gray fieldrecalls the Confederacy and the tricolor cir-cle uses Simon Bolivar’s colors. The eaglesymbolizes the U.S., the shield the defenseof heritage and home. The two cannonsrepresent the Civil War Battle of BolivarHeights when the Confederates captured20,000 Union troops in 1862. The crossedmuskets recall the U.S. armory at Harper’sFerry as well as Bolivar’s shared historywith the adjacent town of Harper’s Ferry.The star fort represents Mudfort, what thetown was originally called. In 1825, whenthe citizens of Mudfort petitioned theVirginia Assembly to become its own town,Simon Bolivar liberated Peru.

SOURCE: HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND HERALD-MAIL

East Ridge, Tennessee

In August, 2009, through a month-long on-line voting process, 320 residents of EastRidge, Tennessee (pop. 21,000) chose a flagfor the city. It won with 66% of the votesfrom among 18 potential flags. (Voterswere not aware that the flag was designedby Vice Mayor Tom Card.) The city, nearChattanooga, hired an outside auditor toassure only one vote per person and thateach vote came from a legitimate city resi-dent.

The flag will be featured at a planned$1 million redesign of exit 1 on Interstate75 in East Ridge and will fly along with theU.S. and Tennessee flags. “This is reallyindicative of what East Ridge is trying to doas a city”, said the vice mayor. “We aremoving forward and trying to beautify thecity.”

According to the designer, the flagplaces the city seal in a field of blue alongwith orange, red, white, and blue panelsand four stars. The orange and blue panelrepresents the city’s colors and three starsrepresent Tennessee’s three grand divi-sions. A single star represents East Ridge’smotto “Gateway to Tennessee.”

The new flag will be unveiled at a fallceremony after which it will fly above allcity buildings.

SOURCE: CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS

IMAGE: TODD METZGAR

IMAGE: DAVE MARTUCCI


International Flag ofLanguage UnfurledGREG NEDVED

National Museum of Language (NML)opened in College Park, Md., in May 2008.In June 2009, it formally unveiled what itbelieves to be the world’s first internationalflag of language (IFL).

The flag was the brainstorm of NAVAmember Greg Nedved, a docent at both theNML and at the Flag House and the StarSpangled Banner Museum in Baltimore(where Mary Pickersgill sewed the Star-Spangled Banner). He noticed that whilean Esperanto flag had existed for over acentury, no flag represented languages ingeneral. He persuaded the NML Board tosponsor a contest among schoolchildrenand young people to choose the design forsuch a language flag. He supported youthinvolvement for two reasons: he knew thatAlaska’s flag came from a design contestamong schoolchildren and saw this ideacould be tried again, and he thought thecontest would be a way to introduce chil-dren to languages—an informal goal of thelanguage museum. In addition, the flagmight be a novel way to help UNESCO (theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific, andCultural Organization) celebrate its 2008International Year of Languages.

A press release announced the contestwith rules posted on the NML website; theyencouraged participants to follow NAVA’sGood Flag, Bad Flag principles. The judges,deliberately few in number, came from theworlds of vexillology (for example,Chesapeake Bay Flag Association presidentJack Lowe) and language. Nedved, whocoordinated the project, also consultedtechnical vexillographic experts (for exam-ple, NAVA News Editor Peter Ansoff).Entries from all over the world came infrom September to November—a widerange of designs with many interesting

Co-Winning Design by Tedi Dessin.

Co-Winning Design by Peter Klumpenhower.

Final Design created by the judges by synthesizing the two co-winners.

time, nothing unusual when legal docu-ments are involved, as did securing thecopyright for the new flag. The flag pre-miered at the NML’s annual dinner in lateJune. A 4’ x 5’ version of the language flag,hand-made by Debra “Mary Pickersgill”Kieft of Charlotte, North Carolina, was a bighit at the event. The press releaseannouncing the flag’s creation was issuedshortly thereafter and the flag design wasposted on the Museum website(www.languagemuseum.org).

Kieft’s flag is currently displayed at theMuseum. A second slightly larger version,made commercially, also belongs to theMuseum. These are the only two in exis-tence. Plans include for the flag include

design promotion and adver-tisement. At some point it willfly outside a larger NML muse-um, and perhaps at UNESCOor at other international oreducational facilities.

The editor wishes to thank Greg Nedvedand the staff of the National Museum ofLanguage for providing informationabout the NML flag. Information aboutthe NML is available on the Museum’sweb site at http://languagemuseum.org/

Image credits: National Museum ofLanguage and FOTW (Esperanto flag).


concepts. Over time, it became clear thatthe judges preferred a general tree designfor the language flag. They selected fivefinalists, ranking them one through five.Designs by Peter Klumpenhower from NewMexico and Tedi Dessin from Delaware tiedfor first place. The winning design com-bines the winners.

The next problem faced was “What doesthe flag mean?”, sparking considerabledebate among the judges and experts,especially over the meaning of the greencurves protruding away from the tree (notfound in either winning design but stronglysuggested for artistic reasons). Some pro-posed explanations were quite elaborate.The NML Board eventually limited theflag’s meaning to the following: “The threeshades of green leaves represent living lan-guages, dead languages, and future lan-guages respectively on a brown two-tonetree trunk. The stylish curves flowing awayfrom the tree represent the spread ofknowledge gained from languages.”

The winners received a cash award, aplaque, a year’s membership in the NML,and special mention in a press release(along with the third, fourth, and fifth placewinners). Securing design release formsfrom the two winners (the designs becamethe property of the Museum) took some

Flagmaker Debra Kieft with the first International Flag of Language.

Esperanto Flag, created ca. 1905.

The Titanic’s EnsignPETER ANSOFF

The May/June 1998 issue of NAVA Newscontained a fine article by James Liston andJim Ferrigan about the flags of RMS Titanic.The authors made the following commentsabout the ship’s Blue Ensign:

“It is very likely [that] Titanic hauleddown her ensign . . . after losing sight of theIrish coast, never to hoist it again. Therewas no reason to have hoisted it at sea,other than perhaps briefly hoisting it toannounce Titanic’s national identity to apassing craft. Presumably, the ensign wentdown with the ship, secured in its locker.While a few older movies have depictedTitanic’s ensign flying proudly as the shipsinks at night hundreds of miles from land,the melodramatic notion is unseamanlikeand improbable.”

All this is most likely true. And yet . . . As far as is known, there were no photo-

graphs taken of the Titanic in her deaththroes. However, a remarkable series ofimages showing her demise was sketchedby Lewis P. Skidmore, an American artist onthe rescue ship Carpathia. While he didnot see the Titanic sink, he based hissketches on a description from John B.“Jack” Thayer, a Titanic survivor who was inone of the collapsible lifeboats.

Skidmore’s sketches, pub-lished in newspapers on bothsides of the Atlantic in themonths following the disaster,and are the closest thing we haveto an eyewitness image of theevent. The sketches clearly showa flag flying from the Titanic’sensign staff.

(Skidmore’s sketches alsoshow the Titanic breaking in halfbefore she sank. Most earlywriters did not believe this, but itwas confirmed when the wreckwas discovered in 1985. Other

details have been questioned; for example,the fourth sketch shows the ship’s bowbobbing to the surface after the break,which is unlikely given what we knowabout the flooding sequence of the ship’scompartments.)

Liston and Ferrigan are probably correctthat the Titanic’s ensign staff was barewhen the sea closed over it on that coldApril night. However, the images based onan eyewitness’s description show that shewent down with her colors flying.

Is it just conceivable that a crew mem-ber might have broken out the flag whenhe realized that his ship was doomed?

Sketch made by Lewis P. Skidmore aboard the Carpathia,15 April 1912. From an exhibit at the Mariners’ Museum,

Newport News, Virginia. PHOTO: PETER ANSOFF

Detail of the Skidmore sketches, showing the final moments of the Titanic.


RAVEN 16:RUSSIAN REGIONAL FLAGS

With its 2009 vol-ume, NAVA’sscholarly journaldelivers its thirdspecial book-length issue.Expanding on thepaper which wonthe CaptainWilliam DriverAward in 2008,Raven 16 docu-ments the flags ofall 83 federal sub-jects of Russia—

Republics, Oblasts, Krais, and more—for thefirst time in English since the breakup ofthe Soviet Union. Annie Platoff, SlavicStudies Librarian at the University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara, has produced animportant contribution to vexillological lit-erature.

All NAVA members receive Raven as abenefit of membership. Additional copiesare available from NAVA or Amazon.comfor $20. Please consider giving a copy toyour local school or library.

Call for Articles for Raven 17

Raven seeks material for its 2010 volume andbeyond. Proposed articles should be from 300 to5,000 words and present new scholarly findingsrelating to flags. Send the text and images oncomputer disk in Word Perfect or Word (no Mac)with images as separate jpeg files, along with apaper copy and any associated photographs orfigures, to: Ted Kaye, Raven editor, 2235 N.W.Aspen Ave., Portland, OR 97210-1218.

Use a minimum of formatting and do not embedgraphics or footnotes. All articles will bereviewed for acceptance by the Raven EditorialBoard and may be edited for length, style, con-sistency, and clarity. Authors will sign a publica-tion agreement and copyright will vest in NAVA.The deadline for submission for consideration inthe 2010 review cycle is 15 February 2010.

Contact [email protected] with questions.

The late Grace RogersCooper, a past NAVApresident, publishedin 1973 one of the truemasterpieces of vexil-lology while curator oftextiles at theSmithsonian:THIRTEEN-STAR FLAGS, Keys toIdentification. The publication is now avail-able online at:http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/HistoryTechnology/pdf_lo/SSHT-0021.pdf

Cooper BookNow On-Line

Mystery Flag

Can any NAVA News reader shed light onthis unusual flag in the collection of theCharleston Museum? [email protected] with any clues.

The museum’s registrar and curator JanHeister writes:

I was delighted to meet all the NAVAmembers—sorry it was so hot that day!Hope everyone had a good visit to Charlestonand a good conference. Our collection isalways open to researchers and flaghistorians—you are all welcome any time.


NAVA ClassifiedsUnusual collection of flag information and histori-cal flags. The Flag Guys® www.flagguys.comFREE catalog. 845-562-0088 283 Windsor Hwy.,New Windsor, NY 12553.

Large Selection of US, State, Military, & WorldFlags. 5% OFF ALL Orders with Coupon Code:discount5. MetroFlags, Inc. www.MetroFlags.net(888) 546-7030.


NAVA News wants your articlesand other vexi-news fromaround North America

Nearly all of the content of NAVA News comprisescontributions from NAVA members and others in thevexi-community. We’re always looking for shortarticles, news about members’ vexillological activities,photos, pictures, and descriptions of new and interest-ing flags, etc. If you’d like to submit an item forpublication, contact the editor, Peter Ansoff, [email protected]. The publication schedule is:

Deadline for ApproximateIssue No. Submissions “In the Mail” Date

205 31 January . 20 March 2010206 30 April . . . 20 June 2010207 31 July . . . . 20 September 2010208 30 Sept . . . 20 December 2010

Don't wait—get started now on that articleyou’ve been meaning to write!

New NAVA ShopAnnouncing: A new NAVA store we are hosting atwww.zazzle.com/navaflag*.

Your suggestions have borne fruit! NAVA now hasa new on-line store where you can order from anever-expanding product line of NAVA-brandedproducts. Every sale benefits NAVA.

NAVA Shopkeeper Al Cavalarihas introduced a line of funNAVA-branded products. Wehope you will be pleased withwhat you see! Please checkthem out and give him yourfeedback at [email protected].

Honor Roll of NAVA ContributorsDecember 2008—November 2009NAVA gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions of its members and friends.Their support makes NAVA programs and publications possible.

Contributors to the

NAVA Annual Fund

Peter Ansoff

Elaine Bagwell

James A. Barr

John Beck

Hugh Brady

Bevinn Byrne

Gerhard P. Grahl

Donald Holland

Richard S. Kelchner

Scott Mainwaring

David R. Mead

Gerry McCavera

Roy McGinnis

Henry L. Moeller

Kin Spain

William J. Trinkle

Steven C. Wheatley

Walter C. Braunschweig

Contributors in memory

of past NAVA leaders:

(Woodrow W. Ridgway)Ted Kaye

Kin Spain

Contributor to the

Devereaux Cannon

Reseach Fund

CRW Flags, Inc.

Contributors to the Flag

Conservation Fund

CBFA

Carita M. Culmer

Roy McGinnis (in honor ofGavin McGinnis)

John D. McGlynn

Gregory J. Nedved

Gilbert Vegas

Contributors to

Raven 16—RussianRegional FlagsPeter Ansoff

University of California,

Santa Barbara Library

Vexillological Association

of the State of Texas

Contributors to NAVA 43

and the Driver Award

[See NAVA 43 Story]

Flag Collection On-LineThe Museum of the Confederacy's entire collec-tion of 685 flags is available for the first time in asearchable database. The non-profit Richmondmuseum has put full collection information on theflag page of the museum's website. Each entryincludes a flag's identification, history, andmeasurements. Color photos are available formost of the flags.

http://www.moc.org/site/DocServer/MOC_Flag_Collection.pdf?docID=5401


CHUMLEY THE VEXI-GORILLA

Chumley the Vexi-Gorilla™ is the creationof Michael Faul, editorof Flagmaster, the dis-tinguished journal ofthe Flag Institute in theUnited Kingdom.

To a field not oftenblessed with humor’sgrace, Mr. Faul brings adelightfully light touch,deep vexillologicalroots, and sparklingwhimsy.

MEMBER FLAGS

Patrick Ka'ano'i—Las Vegas, NevadaThe red stripes represent the old and new gener-ations of Hawaiian ali'i (chiefs) and the whitestripe represents the sacred bond between thetwo. The letters in the crest represent 'K' forKa'ano'i; the golden letter 'H' stands for thechiefly name Ha'o. The white spheres atop theletters 'K' represent the sacred kapu sticks calledpulo'ulo'u and symbolize a star to represent theeyes of our divine ancestors. The red heart sym-bolizes the meaning of Ka'ano'i: “Loving Heartand The Beloved”. The three stars above theheart form a crown or lei haku in honor of ourancestors’ name. The two golden heart-shapedleaves are taro (kalo) leaves—the Hawaiian staffof life. Green represents life; gold the first ances-tral parent of all Polynesians, Kane; and black Po(the night sky), the Hawaiian ancestral realm.The golden coronet represents an ali'i. Pantonecolors are: red—185; green—354; gold—116.

For all NAVA Members’ flags, see:

http://www.nava.org/NAVA%20Membership/FlagRegistry.php

Members are encouraged to send in their personal flagdesigns for inclusion in the NAVA Member Flag Registry.Send your photos/drawings/images and descriptions [email protected] or mail to: Member Flag Registry, 1977N. Olden Ave. Ext., PMB 225, Trenton NJ 08618-2193 USA.

Dr. Carl B. Hellquist—Adams, MassachusettsThe blue background of the Hellquist Family Flagrecalls both the Swedish flag and the AtlanticOcean. The red represents the courage to crossthe ocean from Sweden and the British Isles tothe U.S. The Y-shape recalls the red diagonals onthe British flag and the horizontal stripes on theUS flag. It also signifies our grandparents com-ing from Sweden, meeting in the U.S., and mar-rying. "Hellquist" means "strong branch" and isrepresented by the fir tree, found in NorthernEurope and North America. Green signifies lifeand growth. The tree is off center to echo theScandinavian cross.


North AmericanVexillological Association1977 N. Olden Ave. Ext. PMB 225Trenton, NJ 08618-2193 USA

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The design of NAVA 43’s flag reflects therich history of Charleston and SouthCarolina. When Carolina was a RoyalColony governed by the Lords Proprietors,local gentry were authorized to wear apurple ribbon and have their coats of armsdisplayed on a sun in splendor. The“valleys” formed by the rays of the sun insplendor evoke the letter “v” for vexillology.Finally, the decrescent resembles a “C” forboth Charleston and Charles II, the town’snamesake. The colors are PMS 254 U and143 U. The proportions are 2:3 or 3:5. Thedesigners were John Purcell, Kin Spain,Ron Strachan, and Hugh Brady.

CHECK YOUR LABEL!If the “Paid Through” date is 2009 orearlier, it’s time to renew for 2010.Pay your NAVA membership dues viawww.PayPal.com to [email protected] by check to the NAVA P.O. Box.Thank you!

FLAG DESIGN PROCESS

NAVA 44 & NAVA 45 / 24 ICV

Vexillographers—start design-

ing the flags for the next annual

meetings of NAVA, in Los

Angeles and Washington, DC.

Over the next months, NAVA will be choosing

the Annual Meeting Flags of 2010 & 2011.

The winning flags will be

selected from among those sub-

mitted. Judges may alter or com-

bine designs. All designs must

be received by 31 March 2010.

E-mail designs to [email protected] or mail to

Peter Ansoff, 7706 Bristow Dr.,

Annandale, VA 22003.

Include your name, address,

telephone number, e-mail address

(if available), design explanation,

and specify the meeting the proposal is for—NAVA

44 or 24 ICV / NAVA 45. Make your designs 3”x5”

or easily printed in that size.

Note: by submitting your

design(s) you are assigning

your copyrights in the design(s)

to NAVA for its exclusive use.

NAVA 43 Flag

IMAGES: NAVA 41, Hartford;NAVA 42, Austin; NAVA 37, Norfolk; and

Dev Cannon with NAVA 39, Nashville.

nava news, 2009 (oct-dec), no. 204nava news 204 (issn 1053-3338), oct.-dec. 2009, vol. 42, no. 4...

Documents