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NO. 211 JULYSEPTEMBER 2011 NAVA News The Quarterly Newsletter of the North American Vexillological Association The Washington Flag Congress Page 2 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE... Field Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ICV 24 Presentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Scot Guenter: Honorary Membership . . 9 The Flags of Watson’s Telegraph . . . . . . . 10 Contest Corner: Flag Trivia. . . . . . . . . . . 11 Flag Humor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 NAVA Annual Business Meeting Report . 14 Past NAVA meeting flags in the congress headquarters hotel in Alexandria, Virginia Photo courtesy Ted Kaye www.nava.org

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Page 1: NO. 211 JULYNAVA SEPTEMBER 2011 The ...nava.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NAVANews_2011_no211.pdf · 2 · July–September 2011 · No. 211 · NAVA News By TED KAYE In the largest-ever

NO. 211 JULY—SEPTEMBER 2011

NAVANewsThe Quarterly Newsletter of theNorth American Vexillological Association

The WashingtonFlag Congress

Page 2

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

Field Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ICV 24 Presentations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Scot Guenter: Honorary Membership . . 9The Flags of Watson’s Telegraph. . . . . . . 10Contest Corner: Flag Trivia. . . . . . . . . . . 11Flag Humor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13NAVA Annual Business Meeting Report . 14

Past NAVA meeting flags in the congress headquarters hotel in Alexandria, Virginia

Photo courtesy Ted Kaye

www.nava.org

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Friends:

Returning from the Washington Flag Congress, I am gratefulthat you again have entrusted me with the leadership ofNAVA by re-electing me as president. Many former presi-dents were in Washington—Peter Ansoff, David Martucci,Charles Spain, Nicholas Artimovich, Scot Guenter, and DonaldHealy—and it is an honor to follow them considering theirservices to both NAVA and vexillology.

Thank you also for your many expressions of support andagreement with my writings in this space over the past year.Many of you in Washington made it a point to visit with meabout the need to meet the challenges of the 21st centuryand to discuss how we can be better prepared for this task.

I look forward to continuing these dis-cussions over the coming year.

We bid adieu to Bill Trinkle as sec-retary; he has decided to focus hisenergies on his delightful Bear FlagMuseum. We welcome Mary AnnDocktor-Smith as our new secretary;she’s an experienced hand, having

served on the Executive Board in the 1990s. She combines arock-solid finance and business background with a calm yetcheerful personality—in short, a fine addition to the Board!Thank you also for continuing the other officers in their posi-tions throughout the coming year.

The International Congress of Vexillology was a great suc-cess, thanks to the diligent efforts of Gus Tracchia, Ted Kaye,Jack Lowe, and Peter Ansoff. Jack and his wife Karen did anexceptional job of organizing the many volunteers anddetails associated with the event, especially the food—themost important part! Gus ably coordinated the program,Peter was his usual calm and diplomatic self throughout, andTed kept everyone focused on tasks. I also thank DebbieKaye for cheerfully leading the companion program andhosting the vexillological widows and widowers!

Second Vice President Annie Platoff was honored by theFIAV board with the Vexillon for the most important contri-bution to vexillology in the past two years for her work,Russian Regional Flags (Raven 16). This amazing work docu-mented, for the first time in English since the breakup of theSoviet Union, the flags of all federal subjects of Russia—89 articles covering current and merged federal subjects.No other work since Yokohama’s ICV 23 can compare to thebreadth and detail of Annie’s work, which is a new contribu-tion to vexillological knowledge in an area little examined byflag scholars and thus highly deserving of the Vexillon.

NAVA NewsPETER A. ANSOFF, EDITOR

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

EDITORIAL BOARD

North American Vexillological AssociationFOUNDED 1967

HUGH L. BRADY, PRESIDENT

GUSTAVO TRACCHIA, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

ANNE M. PLATOFF, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

MARY ANN DOCKTOR-SMITH, SECRETARY

EDWARD B. KAYE, TREASURER

WHITNEY SMITH, PRESIDENT EMERITUS

NAVA News 211, (ISSN 1053-3338), July-September 2011, Vol. 44, No. 3Published quarterly by North American Vexillological Association,

1977 N. Olden Ave. Ext. PMB 225, Trenton, NJ 08618-2193.A benefit of NAVA membership. Articles, letters to the editor, and inquiriesabout 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]: Send address changes to NAVA News, 1977 N. Olden Ave.Ext. PMB 225, Trenton, NJ 08618-2193.© 2011 North American Vexillological Association. All rights reserved.

Views expressed are those of individual authors and may not representthe views of NAVA, its officers, or the editor. Sources of illustrations arethe author, unless otherwise noted.

Contact Hugh Brady: [email protected]

HUGHBRADY

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Once More unto the BreachAnnie sets a standard for all of us, and I am grateful thatshe is so giving of her energy to NAVA.

As you know, I have regularly noted that we face a seriouschallenge in membership numbers that are flat and a mem-bership that is aging. It was especially gratifying to see somany younger vexillologists at the Congress, and I hope thatwe will continue to see them at future meetings.

By the end of the year, we should have a thoroughlyrevamped and redesigned website. Our webmaster ShaneSievers and I have been discussing the plans for a newwww.NAVA.org and we are fortunate to have his expertiseas we undertake this project. This is a long-needed step inreaching out to potential members and like-minded scholars.

As always, I cannot emphasize enough that NAVA’s futureultimately rests in your hands. Only your contribution oftime and talents will help NAVA meet the challenges of the21st century. Please consider volunteering to help with thework of our association in the areas of flag conservation,encouraging flag scholarship, recognizing and aiding flagdesign, membership recruitment, and other areas. Juste-mail me about your potential interest(s) and we’ll take itfrom there!

Finally, as I am always reminded, the central charge on theNAVA president’s flag, the Cheyenne Indian “Woheiv” star,symbolizes hope and guidance. Once again, I will endeavorto provide both in the coming year.

HUGH BRADYPRESIDENT

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NAVA News · No. 211· July–September 2011 · 1

Contact Peter Ansoff: [email protected]

CORRECTIONIn NAVA News 210, the bottom caption on page 3 mistakenlyattributed the 1903 Utah flag to the Daughters of the AmericanRevolution; the flag was in fact presented by the Daughters of theRevolution, a different group. We regret the error, which was notthe author’s.

NEXT CONGRESSES & NAVA MEETINGS

Start planning now…The next ICVs will take place in:

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, ICV 25 (5-9 August 2013)http://netherlandsflagcongress.organd in Sydney, Australia, ICV 26 (September 2015).

The next NAVA meetings will take place in:

Columbus, Ohio, NAVA 46 (5-7 October 2012)Salt Lake City, Utah, NAVA 47 (11-13 October 2013)Chicago, Illinois, NAVA 48 (October 2014) [proposed]

FIELD REPORT: SWITZERLAND

Rolf Hinterberger sends images of theworld's largest Swiss flag, unfurled onMount Säntis (2,502 m.) in the cantonof Appenzell in N.E. Switzerland for theSwiss national holiday 1 August 2009.

The flag was120 meterssquare andweighed 1.2tons. It soonripped due tothe high windsin the area.

EDITOR’S NOTE

EditorialMusings

Dear NN Readers,

It was great to see many NAVA members at theWashington Flag Congress in August, and to meetvexi-colleagues from around the world. For those whodidn’t make it to the Congress, we’re providing exten-sive coverage in this issue.

If you have not already done so, I encourage you totake a look at the NAVA digital archive in the “NAVAPublications” section of our web site. We have everyissue of NAVA News available there in PDF format, allthe way back to 1967, along with nearly all issues ofRaven (we’re working on the others).

NAVA has led the way in making our publicationsavailable to researchers on-line, and we’re encouragingother organizations to follow our lead. As I’ve saidbefore, this is (in my humble opinion) one of the mostimportant projects that NAVA has ever undertaken, andwe owe a special debt of thanks to Annie Platoff, 2ndvice president and chair of the Publications Committee,for making it happen.

As always, enjoy the issue and we look forward toyour feedback.

PETER ANSOFFEDITOR

ICV 25 Flag

The ICV 24 / NAVA 45 flag flies proudly at the George WashingtonMasonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia—August 2011.

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By TED KAYE

In the largest-ever gathering of vexillo-logists in one place, the 24th InternationalCongress of Vexillology brought togetherthe world’s flag-studies community for aglorious week last month.

OVER 175 ATTENDEESMeeting in the magnificent George

Washington Masonic Memorial inAlexandria, Virginia, participants in ICV 24heard three dozen formal lectures andconducted the business of NAVA and theFédération internationale des associationsvexillologiques (FIAV). Over 175 peopleattended—more than 125 flag enthusiastsand 50 companions—from 30 differentcountries and 27 U.S./Canadian states/provinces. They were joined at times bymembers of the National Independent FlagDealers Association, NIFDA, which sched-uled its annual meeting to coincide withthe Congress.

THE OPENINGThe Congress began with opening cere-

monies hastily transferred from the frontsteps of the Memorial into the building’smassive lobby because of the oppressive90+ degree heat and high humidity of thefirst day of August. The organizers’ backupplan—originally for rain—saved the day.Younger members of the vexillologicalcommunity served as the honor guard carrying national, state, city, and organiza-tional flags. FIAV president Michel Lupantand other dignitaries welcomed the partici-pants in the cool interior of the Memorial.

THE PROGRAMThe main program took place in the

North Lodge Room, with the flags of FIAVmember associations ringing the balcony.They brought a colorful and internationalmood to the event.

The Washington Flag Congress: ICV 24 / NAVA 45

The George Washington Masonic Memorialin Alexandria, Virginia, the main venue for the 24th ICV.

Young vexillologists serve as the color bearersduring the opening ceremony.

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NAVA first vice president Gus Tracchiaran the formal program, serving as overallmaster of ceremonies and relying on theleaders of FIAV member associations tooversee program sessions of two to fourpresentations each. Topics ranged fromAmericana, Military Flags, and NativeAmerican Flags to Flags in Politics, Flags inOther Media, Cities/Regions/Countries, andHistorical Flags (see page 8). He kept theprogram on time while allowing ample op-portunities for those treasured interactionsamong the community of flag scholars.

DISPLAYS AND SALESParticipants took the opportunity to

show, buy, and sell flags, books, and relateditems. Over 20 tables displayed items forsharing and for sale. On each day DaleGrimes presented different aspects of hismassive collection of World War II flagsmade at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard.Canadian artist Bill Anhang showed hisinnovative fiber-optic lighted art featuringflags. Nick Artimovich and Dave Martuccioffered significant flag books and materialsfor sale. Local flag dealers brought theirwares one afternoon and did a substantialamount of business. And auctions run byNAVA shopkeeper Al Cavalari raised sig-nificant funds for NAVA.

THE SMITHSONIANA special highlight was a day visiting

the Smithsonian Institution’s museums onthe National Mall in Washington, D.C. Withmany NIFDA members along, the group ofnearly 200 toured the National Museum ofAmerican History, home to some of themost cherished flags of the country’s earlydays, including the newly-restored Star-Spangled Banner. Guided by senior cura-tors and conservators in successive small-group tours, Congress participants had theunusual opportunity to visit the back-roomflag storage facilities at the museum. Theywere allowed to pull open the flat-storagedrawers and examine hundreds of flags.

ICV participants in the North Lodge Room,surrounded by FIAV member flags.

Dave Martucci shares his wares with Art Etchells.

Smithsonian Senior Conservator Suzanne Thomassen-Kraussshows vexillologists the Butler Flag in the conservation laboratory.

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Smithsonian staff welcomed theirknowledge, which helped identify severalundocumented flags.

CAMARADERIEParticipants enjoyed the camaraderie of

their fellow vexillologists into the evening,dining in groups small or large (up to 50!).The editors and contributors to the Flags ofthe World Website (FOTW) held their ownget-together, as they do every two years.

COMPANION TOURSMany of the companions—those whose

family members had brought them to theCongress but who were more interested inpursuits other than flags—toured importantsites round the Washington area, includingArlington Cemetery and the WashingtonMonument, and took a Potomac Rivercruise to visit George Washington’s estate,Mt. Vernon.

THE FIAV GENERAL ASSEMBLYIn the General Assembly of FIAV, three

new members were admitted: the StateCouncil of Heraldry at the Parliament ofGeorgia, the Rotterdam Flag ParadeFoundation, and the Macedonian HeraldrySociety. Secretary General (and formerNAVA president) Charles Spain presentedcertificates of membership to their dele-gates. Also, as NAVA 45 occurred concur-rently with the Congress, over 80 membersof NAVA met for its annual business meet-ing to hear reports, elect officers, andamend bylaws (see page 14).

VEXI-BITSNAVA members introduced Congress

participants to the traditional Vexi-Bitssession, an after-dinner flag-show-and-tellevent. Led by NAVA secretary Bill Trinkle,over two dozen people made mini-presen-tations, sharing flags and stories withfellow enthusiasts. This provided anopportunity for many more people to standup and contribute their points of view.

David and Adrian Wagner, in 17th-century garb, hobnob withPeter Orenski and Daniel Broh-Kahn.

Charles Spain (secretary-general), Michel Lupant (president), andGraham Bartram (secretary-general for congresses)

oversee the FIAV General Assembly.

Bill Trinkle, organizer of Vexi-Bits, shows a mystery flagwith a map of Marin County, California.

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THE ZARICOR COLLECTIONIn a special lunchtime presentation,

prominent flag collector Ben Zaricorshared some of the most valuable andinteresting flags in his 3,300-item collec-tion. With his curator, past NAVA vicepresident Jim Ferrigan, he displayedseveral new acquisitions—one which hadjust arrived from Sotheby’s. They includeda large 17 star / 17 stripe US ensigncaptured in the War of 1812 by a Britishwarship (about 6 x 9 feet), a very rareUnion Jack from the Battle of Trafalgar in1805 (even larger, at about 7 x 12 feet), thesecond ensign flown from the CSS Alabamain her final battle in 1864, and the flagsfrom the US presidential limousine inwhich President John F. Kennedy wasassassinated on 22 November 1963.

NAVA FLAGS ON DISPLAYThe Embassy Suites—Alexandria Old

Town served as the headquarters hotel.Congress participants and other guestsalike enjoyed the public display of personalflags hung around the atrium, with the col-lection of past NAVA meeting flags in onelarge group (see cover). One visitor, a ten-year-old girl, was asked if she could identi-fy the city represented by the flag withorange and black stripes and a witch on it(NAVA 13, Salem, Mass., 1979). Her guess:“Wichita?”.

CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIALAnother Congress hotel, the Hotel

Monaco, stood on the former site of theMarshall House, where the first two mar-tyrs to the Union and the Confederacy diedin May 1861. As Federal troops tookAlexandria the day after Virginia’s seces-sion, rebel hotel keeper James Jacksonkilled Union colonel Elmer Ellsworth as hetook down Jackson’s Confederate Flag;Ellsworth’s guards instantly killed Jackson.Dr. Philippe Rault, from Brittany, France,led a Congress group to the site to honorthe martyrs.

Ben Zaricor discusses treasures from his collection of historic flags,including ensigns from Trafalgar and the CSS Alabama.

Past NAVA meeting flags bedeck the atrium of the Embassy Suitesin Alexandria. Shown are NAVA 34, 13, 22, 20, 3, 12, 40, & 27.

Honoring the first martyrs to the Confederate and Union causes inOld Town Alexandria, 150 years later.

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BEST PAPERSThe NAVA board voted the Captain

William Driver Award for best paper toKenneth Hartvigsen, for his presentationon a flag connection between Civil Warsheet music and the Jackson-Ellsworthincident. (In a first for NAVA, Kenneth’sfather, John, had won the Driver Award lastyear.) The FIAV board named “Flags ofConstructed Languages” by Patrice de laCondamine, the best paper of the Congress,an award underwritten by NAVA.

VOLUNTEERSThe hard work and generous spirit of

over 30 volunteers made the Congress pos-sible. The Chesapeake Bay FlagAssociation graciously provided the localmanpower which moved supplies, set updisplays, hung flags, guided tours, andmade the visitors welcome. Several otherNAVA members also pitched in. TheOrganizing Committee for the Congresscomprised the presidents of NAVA and theCBFA (Hugh Brady and Jack Lowe), theprogram chair (Gus Tracchia), the venuechair (Peter Ansoff), and the coordinatorand registrar (Ted Kaye).

Because the venue was atop a hill over-looking historic Alexandria, the Congressprovided lunches to all participants. KarenLowe, who with her husband Jack hadplanned all the breaks, lunches, and ban-quet, led a team of pleasant volunteers whoassured that participants were well-fed andhydrated. They distributed 2,000 bottles ofwater.

FINAL BANQUETDuring the final banquet in the Grand

Masonic Hall, Hugh Brady presented a full-size version of the Congress flag to itsdesigner, Tony Burton of Australia. TheFIAV flag and gavel were ceremoniallypassed to Marcel van Westerhoven and JosPoels, representing the organizing commit-tee for the next congress, ICV 25 (2013), inRotterdam, the Netherlands.

Kenneth Hartvigsen receives the Driver Award for best paper from NAVA president Hugh Brady.

NAVA Shopkeeper Al Cavalari auctions a donated flagto benefit NAVA; Chris Bedwell looks on.

The organizers of ICV 25 (2013) in Rotterdam accept the FIAV flagfrom officers of FIAV and CBFA.

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Oliver Hazard Perry’s famous flag from the 1813 Battle of LakeErie, in the collection of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Over 175 attendees enjoy the Washington Flag Congress inAlexandria, Virginia.

FIAV AWARDS The FIAV board presented the 2011

Vexillon, an award which honors the mostimportant contribution to vexillologyduring the two preceding years, to NAVA’ssecond vice president Annie Platoff for herauthorship of Russian Regional Flags,which appeared in 2009 as a special issueof Raven. FIAV also caught up with pastyears’ awards to Laureates of theFederation, Fellows of the Federation, andBest Paper awards. Among the newFellows were NAVA members Hugh Brady,Scot Guenter, Zach Harden, and Jack Lowe.

ANNAPOLIS TOURAfter the formal end to the Congress

over 60 participants toured the U.S. NavalAcademy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland,which houses the United States NavyTrophy Flag Collection. Included are thefamous “Don’t Give Up the Ship” flag flownat the Battle of Lake Erie (1813) and thefirst American ensign flown in Japan(1853). They also visited the 1779 MarylandState House, which displays a full-sizereproduction of the “John Shaw” flag thatflew atop the capitol when the ContinentalCongress convened there in 1783-84. Rev.Dick Libby organized the tour.

RESPONSESAfter the Congress, participants called it

“very successful and enjoyable”, “flawless”,and “a fun experience”. One first-timecompanion said “It really has changed howI myself look at our surroundings—I noticeflags everywhere now!” The WashingtonPost and the Alexandria Times both ranarticles about the Congress, which raisedawareness of vexillology in the Washington,D.C., area and even brought in a new NAVAmember.

NAVA and CBFA hosted a tremendoussuccess; the opportunity to do so comesinfrequently—the last congress in Canadawas in Victoria, B.C., in 1999; the last one inthe U.S. was in San Francisco in 1987.

Annie Platoff receives the Vexillon for Raven 16, Russian RegionalFlags, from Michel Lupant and Charles Spain.

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Sir Charles Fawcett Redux: The Historical Connection betweenthe British East India Company Flag andthe American Continental ColorsPETER A. ANSOFF, Virginia, USA

Unity in FlagsRALPH G. C. BARTLETT, Australia

Stillborn: Flags Designed forthe “Republic of KwaNdebele”BRUCE BERRY, South Africa

Sokol Flags: The Symbols of theCroatian Sokol Movement up to 1914JELENA BOROŠAK-MARIJANOVIĆ, Croatia

Did the United States Influence the CzechoslovakNational Flag?ALEŠ BROŽEK, Czech Republic

Raising the Standard: An Argument from DesignTONY BURTON, Australia

Aquella Bandera Cubana…La OriginalAVELINO V. COUCEIRO R., Cuba

Flags of Constructed Languages [Best Paper Award]PATRICE DE LA CONDAMINE, France

Four Forgotten Norwegian EnsignsJAN OSKAR ENGENE, Norway

Foreign Influences on theDevelopment of Russian Military FlagsARTHUR W. ETCHELLS III, Pennsylvania, USA

The Flag of the City of Buenos Aires:Four Centuries of HistoryFRANCISCO GREGORIC, Argentina

Two Famous American FlagsDALE GRIMES, JR., Maryland, USA

The Rise and Fall of Worldface: Social Networking,Stereotyping, and the Power of FlagsSCOT GUENTER, California, USA

Utah’s Adoption of Two Legislative MeasuresAffecting the Utah State FlagJOHN M. HARTVIGSEN, Utah, USA

Picturing Flag Violence in Civil War Sheet Music:The Case of “Down With the Traitors’ SerpentFlag” [Capt. William Driver Award]KENNETH HARTVIGSEN, Massachusetts, USA

San Diego’s Indian Tribal FlagsDONALD T. HEALY, Arizona, USA

National Identity in the Political Party Flags of CroatiaŽELJKO HEIMER, Croatia

ICV 24 Presentations Why Flags?Searching for an Essence of FlagsLEE L. HEROLD, Minnesota, USA

Catalan Modernism and VexillologySEBASTIÀ HERREROS AGÜÍ, Catalonia

The 20th Anniversary underthe Slovene FlagTADEJ JAKOPIČ, Slovenia

Southern Cross Down UnderRALPH KELLY, Australia

Gibraltar: The Rock with its own SymbolsROMAN KLIMEŠ, Germany

From the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islandsto the Federated States of MicronesiaMICHEL R. LUPANT, Belgium

The MysteriousJohn Hewson–Martha Washington FlagCHRISTOPHER MADDISH, Pennsylvania, USA

The Standards ofthe Manhattoes, Pavonia, and Hell-GateDAVID B. MARTUCCI, Maine, USA

British Royal Standards 1199–PresentGEOFF PARSONS & MICHAEL FAUL, UK

Six Flags over Luna? The Role of Flags in MoonLanding Conspiracy TheoriesANNE M. PLATOFF, California, USA

The Orange Pennant:The Dutch Response to a Flag DilemmaJOS POELS, Netherlands

The Maritime Influence onthe Municipal Flags of Atlantic CanadaROB RAESIDE, Nova Scotia, Canada

Following the Voice: The Eyes of VexillologyALAIN RAULLET, Brittany

Political Party Flags of San MarinoMARCUS E. V. SCHMÖGER, Germany

The Treatment of the4th Regiment U.S.C.T. Civil War FlagGWEN SPICER & ALEXANDRA DEUTSCH,New York & Maryland, USA

Discoveries Made while Preservingthe Star-Spangled BannerSUZANNE THOMASSEN-KRAUSS,District of Columbia, USA

On a Scale of 1 to 10PETER HANS VAN DEN MUIJZENBERG,Netherlands

Translating Coats of Arms and Emblems into FlagsMARCEL VAN WESTERHOVEN, Netherlands

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Scot Guenter Honored by NAVA

On rare occasions NAVA confers honorarymembership on a person who has rendered“distinguished service to the association”.

Scot M. Guenter, Ph.D., a member since1985, has tirelessly and cheerfully servedNAVA and the cause of vexillologythroughout the years. He served as NAVA’spresident 1991–94 and in the language ofthe certificate awarded him at the finalbanquet of the Washington Flag Congress,“Professor Guenter...has been consistentlyguided by a vision of scholarship rivaledonly by that which led to NAVA’s initial creation. This vision gave birth to Raven: A Journal of Vexillology and nurtured itsunparalleled success. For his original contribution to the science of vexillology inhis work, The American Flag 1777-1924, theFédération internationale des associationsvexillologiques recognized him as aLaureate.”

Five past NAVA presidents joined cur-rent president Hugh Brady to present Scotwith just the ninth honorary membershipbestowed in 40 years, each speaking abouthis service and accomplishments.

The certificate concluded: “He truly is atitan who inspires all around him to ‘Keepstudying those flags!’”

(l to r) Behind Scot Guenter: Presidents GeorgeWashington, Hugh Brady, Peter Ansoff, Nick Artimovich,

Don Healy, Charles Spain, and Dave Martucci

The Washington FlagCongress thanks:Advertising Flag Co. for the large meeting flags,Annin & Co. for the table flags, TME Co. for the flagpins, National Flags Australia for the flag patches,The Flag Shop for the Canadian flag pins, The FlagGuys for the U.S. flag pins, National Capital Flagfor lending flag poles and bases, and especially CRWFlags for generously sponsoring the opening reception;

Commercial Members of NAVA for underwritingthe Driver Award: Bear Flag Museum, CRW Flags,Dixie Flags, The Flag Guys, The Flag Shop,Herold Flags, Jeff R. Bridgman AmericanAntiques, Preservation Designs, & TME Co.;

The National Museum of American History,Smithsonian Institution, and its staff (JenniferLocke Jones and Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss);

The U.S. Naval Academy (Jim Cheever) and theMaryland State House (Stephanie Bray and PatTurlington);

The membership of NAVA, its board, and themembers of the Organizing Committee for theCongress;

and most of all, the local volunteers from theChesapeake Bay Flag Association.

Photo credits for ICV 24 images:JAN OSKAR ENGENE, M.V. JANTZEN, TED KAYE, PHILIPPE RAULT

Ted Kaye,Congress coordinator. Gus Tracchia, program chair.

The Congress Scientific Committee:Anne M. Platoff, M.A., CHAIR Luc V.Baronian, PH.D., Perry Dane, J.D., ScotM. Guenter, PH.D., Kevin Harrington,M.A.T., Laura K. Kidd, PH.D., John M.Purcell, PH.D., Ken Reynolds, PH.D.

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arrival was transmitted down the line ofstations to Liverpool by the semaphores.

Messages could be sent from one end ofthe telegraph line to the other in a matter ofminutes. Watson’s code used a basic set of 12flags, representing the digits from 1 to 10 plusseveral other flags and pennants (Figure 3).In Walters’ painting, the Independence isshown flying the numbers 2-3-3, her number inWatson’s code.

The Holyhead-Liverpool telegraph existeduntil the late 1850s, when it was replaced withan electric telegraph cable. It is significant asan early example of the use of standardizedsignals by merchant vessels.

The Flags of Watson’s TelegraphBy PETER ANSOFF

NAVA receives a steady stream of inquiries viaour website on various flag-related topics.Most of them are straightforward questionsabout flag history, details of the flag code, andso forth. A few of them, however, draw atten-tion to interesting and unusual aspects of vexil-lological history and usage.

Last February, we received one such fromFather Benet Caffrey, archivist of St. Mary’sAbbey in Morristown, New Jersey. Father Benethad recently bought a painting at a rummagesale (Figure 1) that showed a sailing ship

named Independenceflying several flags.He wondered if theflags might offer anyclues about the shipand the location de-picted in the painting.

The ship itself wasnot hard to identify.The packetIndependence waslaunched in New York

in 1833, and traded between New York andLiverpool under the flag of the “BlueSwallowtail Line” of Grinnell Mintern & Co.Father Benet’s picture is evidently a copy of anoil painting by Samuel Walters in 1839. Thepicture shows the ship flying a US ensign atthe gaff and the house flag of the BlueSwallowtail line at the main truck. The numberof stars on the ensign is difficult to make out,but it is probably 26, reflecting the admission ofMichigan in 1837.

The three signal flags flying from the fore-mast (Figure 2) are of particular interest. Atthe beginning of the 19th century, merchantsand shipowners erected flagpoles on BidstonHill, near Liverpool, to communicate with theirinbound ships. The hill was eventually crowd-ed by over 100 flagpoles (Figure 4, next page).In 1826, the Liverpool Dock Trustees estab-lished a system of semaphore stations stretch-ing west from Liverpool to Holyhead, 72 milesto the east, where inbound ships frequentlymade landfall. An inbound ship identified itselfusing a unique three-number signal codedevised by Lt. Barnard Watson, and the ship’s

Figure 1: Painting of the packetIndependence, after SamuelWalters, 1839

Figure 2: Detail of the Independence painting, showing Watson’s signal flags.

Figure 3: Watson's Liverpool Telegraphic List of Ship Names, 1838.Credit: Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool

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NAVA News · No. 211· July–September 2011 · 11

CONTEST CORNER

Flag TriviaBy GREG NEDVEDAnswers to Last Issue’s Questions:1. What is the only language with its own flag? Esperanto (green & white). (Editor’s note: there are actually at

least 20 “constructed languages” with flags—described in Patrice de La Condamine’s ICV 24 lecture.)2. Roughrider Seth Bullock suggested which state flag? South Dakota (the 1909 flag was created at his request).3. What was the fate of Lu Haodong, the man who designed the canton of the Republic of China flag?

He was executed as a revolutionary in 1895.4. What two states represented on the Confederate battle flag were still in the Union? Missouri & Kentucky.5. What is the only state flag with Roman numerals on it?

Missouri (MDCCCXX represents 1820, the year of the Missouri Compromise).6. What is the first Latin American republic to have a national flag? Haiti.7. Which Union commander awarded his officers with star flags? Signal Corps commander Albert J. Myer.8. Which “royalty” assisted in the theft of the 1920 Olympics flag? Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku.9. What famous flag was “upside down” during a trade summit in 2009?

The British Union Jack (at the summit with China, but through a British mistake).10. Why do the Chinese call the Union Jack the “rice flag” (米字旗)?

The flag’s canton resembles the Chinese character for “rice”(米).

Contact the Vexi-Quizmaster at [email protected]

Figure 4: Signal flagpoles on Bidston Hill

References:Cutler, Carl C., Greyhounds of the Sea. Naval Institute Press, 1984(originally published in 1930).Glover, Bill, Liverpool-Holyhead Semaphore Telegraph. Online athttp://atlantic-cable.com/Article/Holyhead-Liverpool/index.htm.Large, Frank, Faster Than the Wind: a History of and Guide to theLiverpool to Holyhead Telegraph. Avid Publications, 1998Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool,www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/ visited 15 August 2011.

Special thanks to Father Caffrey, for permis-sion to reproduce the photographs of his paint-ing, and to Bill Burns, publisher and webmasterof “Atlantic-Cable.com”, for permission toreproduce the graphic of the Bidston Hill flag-poles (Figure 4).

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12 · July–September 2011 · No. 211 · NAVA News

publications will include links to the full text in theNAVA Digital Library, enabling researchers to identifyarticles on a subject of interest and then find the actualarticle. Once this initial set of records are in the data-base, a group of volunteers will begin to add informa-tion for the publications of other VexIndex partnerorganizations that agreed to participate during therecent Washington Flag Congress.

The VexIndex project is being managed by AnniePlatoff, NAVA’s 2nd Vice President. Computer program-ming and web hosting for the project are being donat-ed by Platoff Consulting, Inc. The project team plans tohave the NAVA index ready by year-end, with the addi-tion of other publications starting in early 2012.

NAVA News wants your articlesand other vexi-news from aroundNorth AmericaNearly all of the content of NAVA News comprises contributionsfrom NAVA members and others in the vexi-community. We’re always looking for short articles, news about members’vexillological activities, photos, pictures, and descriptions of newand interesting flags, etc. To submit an item for publication, pleasecontact the editor, Peter Ansoff, at [email protected].

NAVA’s Grant ProgramsThe Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. Grant for Research in Vexillology supports original research in variousaspects of flag design and usage. NAVA gives this grant, now $500, on an occasional basis to individualspursuing research which advances vexillological knowledge in North America.NAVA actively promotes conservation, preservation, and restoration of historic flags by raising and granting fundsfor museums and other repositories, and by lending its name in support of these efforts, through the GraceRogers Cooper Flag Conservation Grant of $250–$500. See “Grants” at www.nava.org for more details.

VexIndex: The InternationalVexillological IndexNAVA has agreed to participate in VexIndex, a projectto create an International Vexillological Index. Thedatabase will index a variety of publications aboutflags and related topics including books; articles injournals, magazines, and newsletters; conference pro-ceedings; websites; etc.

The index will be assembled as a collaborative proj-ect of vexillological associations and individual vexillol-ogists. NAVA’s contribution will include the conversionof the current index to Raven: A Journal of Vexillologyand NAVA News. Database records describing NAVA

The publication schedule is:

Deadline for ApproximateIssue No. Submissions “In the Mail” Date212 31 October 20 December 2011213 31 January 20 March 2012214 30 April 20 June 2012215 31 July 20 September 2012

Don't wait—get started now on that article you’ve beenmeaning to write!

NAVA Database

To access information about fellow NAVA members, orto update your NAVA member profile—address, phone,e-mail, flag interests, personal flag, and e-mail prefer-ences—visit the Members Only section of the NAVAwebsite. Click on “Edit My Profile” and update anyinformation listed there.

NAVA members need a password.

To receive or renew your password:1) Go to http://members.nava.org or

Go to NAVA.org and click on “Member Login”.2) Enter your member number in the “Member ID” box

(it’s on your mailing label).3) Click on “Forgot Password?” and an e-mail with

your new password will be sent to the email addresson record.

E-mail Shane Sievers, NAVA webmaster, [email protected] with any questions.

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NAVA News · No. 211· July–September 2011 · 13

FLAG HUMOR

Members are encouraged to send in their personal flag designs for inclusionin the NAVA Member Flag Registry. Send your photos, drawings, anddescriptions to [email protected], or mail to: Member Flag Registry,1977 N Olden Ave Ext PMB 225, Trenton NJ 08618-2193 USA, or post themdirectly to the Member Database.

Scott Mainwaring—Portland, OregonBased on the maritime signal flags for S and M, with thesquare in the middle of the "S" flag morphed into an arrowfacing in to the wind. Onwards. Or, "devant si je puis" (fore-most if I can), the alleged Latin motto of the Mainwarings.

MEMBER FLAGS

Stanley Max—Portland, MaineProf. Max belongs to the U.S. Metric Association. Thesmall letter “m” is the international symbol of themeter, the measurement of length upon which the met-ric system is based. The “m” could also represent“Max”. The circle circumscribing the cross is the astro-nomical symbol for Earth, and the curved arrow demar-cates one-quarter of the planet’s circumference. (TheFrench revolutionary government, upon establishing themetric system in the 1790s, decreed that one ten-mil-lionth of the arc extending from the North Pole to theEquator would constitute a meter.) The flag’s propor-tions are 2:3, matching the flag of the European Union,a major proponent of the metric system. The blue and

gold colors are those of the EU flag and in the logo ofthe Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, theinternational agency which administers the Interna-tional System of Units (SI), as the modern metric systemis known. For Max’s small vexillological website, visitwww.metricphilatelist.net/flags/flags.htm.

Bruin become MEDIATOR orNegotiation for PEACE,New York. ca. 1814

John Bull: Pray Mr Bruin try if youcan make up this little Differencebetween us--The Wasps and Hornetshave Stung me so hard I wish I hadnever disturbed their Nests.

Columbia: I thank you Mr Bruin butI cannot trust the Bull. 'Tho he haspromised to draw his HORNS he mustbe safe bound to the Stake before Itreat with him.

Bruin: Let me unite your handsMadam--Johny and I have been veryfriendly since I sent him my Fleet totake care of----

This cartoon refers to the Russian effortto mediate the War of 1812 betweenthe United States and Great Britain.It represents those countries with theRussian Bear, Columbia, and John Bull.The artist was William Charles(1776–1820).

SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons

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

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

REPORT OF THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETINGOF NAVA AND NOMINATING COMMITTEEMEMBERS AND OFFICERS FOR 2011-12

At the annual business meeting of the voting members of the Association

on Thursday, 4 August 2011 at 9:00 AM, at the George Washington

Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, the member-

ship approved the following:

Nominating committee members for 2011-12:

Peter Ansoff, Scot Guenter, and Pete Van de Putte,

Officers for 2011-12:

President: Hugh L. Brady

First Vice President: Gustavo Tracchia

Second Vice President: Anne M. Platoff

Secretary: Mary Ann Docktor-Smith

Treasurer: Edward B. Kaye,The Budget for 2011-12,and Bylaws Amendments:Approval of Financial Transactions by the PresidentAmend Section 5.01 of the Bylaws to read as follows:§ 5.01. Powers.

(d) The treasurer may sign checks or authorize electronic paymentson behalf of the executive board, provided that any check [checks] drawnor electronic payment authorized in excess of five [one] hundred UnitedStates dollars must be approved in advance in writing [countersigned] bythe president.

Flag Design Committee ChargeAmend Section 7.09 of the Bylaws to read as follows:§7.09 Flag design committee.

(a) The flag design committee shall promote vexillography, which isthe study and practice of good flag design.

(b) The flag design committee shall:(1) propose to the executive board standards of good flag design,

guidelines for the flag design process, and a code of ethics for consultingvexillographers;

(2) promote those standards adopted by the executive board;(3) maintain a list of knowledgeable vexillographers who agree to

abide by those standards in consulting with persons needing vexillograph-ic advice; [and]

(4) publicize the existence of the committee’s list of knowledgeablevexillographers and provide referrals in response to inquiries in accor-dance with Subsection (c); and

(5) compile and maintain a library of technical information relatingto flag design and the flag design process, including information relatingto case studies, recommendations, and lessons-learned, and make thisinformation available to consulting vexillographers.

(c) The flag design committee shall not directly consult with a personneeding vexillographic advice, but may refer inquiries to a knowledgeablevexillographer or provide [make] the committee’s list of knowledgeablevexillographers [available] on such terms as are determined by the execu-tive board. Other than providing referrals or a copy of the committee’slist, neither the association nor the flag design committee shall be a partyto any agreement between a vexillographer on the committee’s list and aperson needing vexillographic advice.

The full minutes of the meeting are posted in the Members-Only section of the NAVA website.

The ICV 24 Flag Pin