Thomas J. Carrier Editor 2005 N. Daniel #301 Arlington, VA 22201

VOLUME XIX, NO. 5

Notes from Grace Rogers Cooper NAVA President

CACAPON, WV: It is my philo­sophy that organizations are best served by all the members. After serv­ing you as president for the past three years, I have chosen not to run again for this important office. We need to share the work, the responsibility, and the honor. You have received your new NAVA Handbook and read the Bylaws. Please use your talents and serve on NA VA's Executive Board, if not this year, consider some future year. If you will note the list of past officers, you will see that most of NA V A's officers have served in more than one office. This is good prepara­tion for serving as President. I have had excellent support from my fellow officers; for this I wish to thank them. And I wish to thank you, my fellow members, for your support and for the opportunity to get to know you a little better.

I will be in Trenton October 10-12, NA VA XX. I hope to greet each of you there. Attend the Annual Meet­ing, listen to the presentations, and share good vexillological conversation. Best wishes to all.

Sanford Lee Cooper, Grace's husband, died on July 20, 1986, just after the July I August Issue had gone to press. Although San­ford was not a NAVA member, he had attended six of the last eight Annual Meetings, in Montgomery, Salem, Pittsburgh, New York, Vancouver, and Kansas City. He was very supportive of Grace's work first as Treasurer and then as President of NAV A. We extend our sympathy to Grace.

to NAVA 1988

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1986

Vexillology at the United Nations by Nathaniel 0. Abelson

Ihefollowing article was originally delivered at N AVA 13 in Salem, Mass., as a banquet address. It has been slightly altered by being updated; its discussion of the origins of the United Nations flag will be published separately in THE FLA G

BULLETIN. Part 2 of2

Mention has been made of the flags which fly in front of the United Na~ tions Headquarters. They are of a standard size, four by six feet. For indoor use we have sets whose dimen­sions are three by five feet. Each day at 0800-except on Saturday and Sunday or when the weather is inclem­ent-a team of from eight to eleven security officers hoist the one hundred and fIfty nine flags. This operation usually takes from twenty to twenty­two minutes. On weekends, unless a meeting takes place, only the United Nations flags are raised: they are lo­cated apart from the line of national flags. During the daily ceremonies, these flags are raised first and lowered last. The flags are all stored in three small shelters at different points near the row of flag poles.

Except on the days when the flags of new member states are raised, all flags are flown in alphabetical order with A to the north and Z to the south. For the ceremony of the raising of the flags of new member states, poles are left vacant in front of the delegates' entrance to the General As­sembly building. On the following day, all flags resume their alphabetical or­der. To avoid erorrs and to speed the process, each flag is numbered as well as identified by name at the top of the hoist. At 1600 the flags are retired. The flags used outdoors last from six to twelve months before they are con­sidered unfit for display. When they are removed from use, they are cut up and the pieces are burned.

Replacement sets are obtained

through the Purchase and Transpor­tation Service. For quite a few years they have been obtained from Annin & Co. In the 1970's, because a number of production errors were not caught before the flags were raised, I incurred the additional assignment of checking each new flag received from the manu­facturer. While this function virtually eliminated complaints from govern­ment sources, we still receive criticism from vexillologists who occasionally know about changes of flags before the representative of the states con­cerned have been officiallv informed.

It was originally determined through a drawing by lot from regional groups by the Secretary-General that the flags of the first sixteen member states, to appear in 1980, would be Bangladesh, Democratic Yemen, EI Salvador, France, Guinea, Hungary, Iran, Lux­embourg, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda, Suriname, Turkey, Venezuela, Viet Nam, and Yugoslavia. This list, how­ever, was modified because of the pos­sibility of changes in the flags of some of these countries before the date of issue. These flags probably received closer attention than any flags pre­viously published by the United Na­tions, Mr. Konopiaty and I went over them time and time again trying to insure their authenticity. The obstacles are unbelievably great, since the best source material we can obtain through official channels is often less specific than the accuracy required. Every ef­fort is made to insure that, where there is reason to believe that coun-

continued on page 2

Vexillology at the U.N. cant 'd from page I tries whose flags have been chosen may make changes in their flags before the date of publication, the flags of those countries will be withdrawn for issuance at a later date.

I will conclude these lengthy re­marks with a short story concerning vexillology. One day many years ago while at my office, I received a phone call from the public lobby, as I do from time to time. It was from a high school student who wished to visit my office to see what we did about flags. We do not encourage this type of inquiry except in the case of persons working towards their doctorates; we are not a public library. However, this young man persisted in a pleasant way, and I finally permitted him to come to the Map Room. That was how, in 1957, I met Whitney Smith.

His enthusiasm for his hobby was contagious and we had a pleasant exchange of ideas. He came back to the Map Room many times after that and I watched him grown. He went to Harvard, worked on to get his PhD, and began teaching, but through it all he was obsessed with his hobby of collecting flag information. There was the birth of THE FLAG BULLETIN, the Flag Research Center, the entry into full-time pursuit of his hobby, and then publication· of Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, the best book on flags in existence. We have not always seen eye to eye on certain flags or on other subjects, but we have become good friends.

At the NAVA "brainstorming ses­sion" I referred to the conception of

the word "vexillology". While I have not seen his documentation, I am will­ing to accept that Whitney coined it first. * It is a fact, however, that it had been invented also by coincidence at the United Nations. This is how it happened. In my first article on flags in the Secretariat News, on 14 October 1960, the editor suggested a closing thought. My resulting paragraph read: "What is the term for a man who col­lects information about flags? I've asked a lot of people this question-in vain. Somebody called the Terminol­ogy Unit which said it would try to find out. Then Terminology asked me -so I give up. Does anyone know the answer?"

In the next issue of the Secretariat News, on 31 October 1960, I wrote: "A number of suggestions for a term which properly describes the function of one who collects flag data has been received. They are: professional herald; semeologist; semeofile; vexillologist or vexillogist; flagofilista. Take your pick."

What I did not write, because the terminologist was so modest that he abhorred having his name used, was that the man who had given me these terms was Gerhardus Vanneck of the· United Kingdom, not retired. His father, before he died, sat in the House of Lords. After the article of 31 Oc­tober, I had a long discussion with Vanneck and as a consequence selected vexillology as the term I would use. It was used thereafter in almost all my articles. This is not the first occasion on which the same idea has been con­ceived by different persons unknown to one another, but it should be re-

Philatelic Flags The United Nations' seventh group of stamps depicting

the flags of 16 member nations is being issued Sept. 19. With this installment, the world organization will be more than tWo-thirds of the way toward completing one of the epic undertakings of philately, a series depicting the flags of its 159 members.

The format for the Flag Series remains unchanged from the issuance of the first group in 1980. A sheet of 16 stamps depicts four different flags, each in a block of four. There are four sheets for the issue, for a total of 16 different flags.

Mail orders lor stamps or requests for additional infor­mation should be sent to U.N. Postal Administration, Box 5900, Grand Central Stc1tion, New York, N.Y. 10163-5900.

Page 2 from "':'ashington Post, Aug. 24, 1986

corded. In a letter to The Times of London on 4 October 1973, I said substantially the same thing.

The term vexillology has been in the public domain for some 35 years. While you have every right to decide upon its spelling and use within NAVA, your decision mayor may not have much effect outside this organi­zation. Regardless of what you call it, who invented it, or how you spell it, vexillology has come into its own, and what I say of NAVA at its 979 meet­ing was very impressive. In particular I should like to compliment Rev. Szala on the tremendous job he did in or­ganizing that meeting. I have attended conferences which had the full sup­port of governments behind them that were not so well organized.

Which brings me back to my story about Whitney Smith. It has been largely due to his obsession, his inspi­ration, and his drive that this organi­zation exists today. It is because of him that I am here; I only regret that I did not make it to the. earlier meet­ings. to which he invited me. While I may contest that he was alone in con­ceiving the term "vexillology", I would

. be the first to bestow upon him the title of "Mr. Vexillology."

*"My recollection is that Mr. Abelson and I discussed the term for someone interested in flags when I first visited him in June 1957. Whether "vexillologist" was under consideration at that point, I can't recall, but I did use "vexillology" in print in the October 1959 issue of The Arab World, when my first article on flags was pub­lished in that magazine." Whitney Smith

Report on Nava XX Preparations are coming to a head

for NA VA XX Host Don Healy and Program Chair Doreen Braverman. Final preparations for presentations, displays, tributes, dignitaries, and guest speakers are being readied for the 70-75 conferees expected at NAVA XX in Trenton, New Jersey October 10 through the" 12th. The Bordentqwri Sheraton will house the conferees and a shuttle service will be used to transport them to the confer­ence site at the Trenton War Memo­rial-an easy 10 to 15 minute drive away.

According to an advance, tentative schedule, NAVA XX begins on Fri­day, October 10, between 7 and 9 p.m. at the Bordentown Sheraton where registration and a reception is planned. This is .the time to catch up with old vexillological friends and to greet new members.

Saturday morning starts out with the official opening ceremonies at the conference site with Trenton Mayor Arthur Holland welcoming the con­ferees to his fair city. Immediately fol­lowing will be the very important NA VA Annual Meeting with the Executive Board reports of the pre­vious year's activities. Also the new Executive Board for the 1986-1987 term will be chosen (see the Editor's Notes for the Nominating Commit­tee's report). Other important organi­zational items will be presented with a chance for members to contribute items of importance. This is an impor­tant membership privilege. Don't miss it!

The first presentation of NA V A XX tentatively scheduled to follow the annual meeting is the "Ross-Hopkin­son Debate". The debate intends to shed some light on the historical dif­ferences surrounding the first adopted design of the American national flag. Other presentations tentatively sche­duled throughout Saturday and Sun­day are: "Chadwick and the Canadian Red Ensign" by Alistair B. Fraser, "The Flag History and Symbolism of the Five Borough Flags 9f New York City" by Corinne Deretz, "The Amer­ican Flag and the Kensington Riots of 1844" by NA VA XIX Driver Award Winner Scot M. Guenter, "Flags of the Federation, Argentina 1814-1853"

by Gus Tracchia, "Hi-tech Vexillol­ogy: An Inventory of the Fort McHenry Flag Collection" by former. NA VA VP Nick Artimovich, "Penn­sylvania's Civil War Battle Flags" by Richard Sauer, "Names on Flags" by former NA VA President Whitney Smith who will also do a tribute to the late vexillologist Jim Marill, "Flags of Francophonia" by Kevin Harring­ton, "Flags of the Texas Revolution" by David Ott, a curious presentation by Phil Allen entitled "The World Color Survey and Inversionism as it Relates to Flags", Florence Hutchin­son will tell us of "The Year of the Three Flags", and more.

For displays, I'm glad to see that Rich Kenny will bring along his always delightful collection of "City Flags of the U.S.", Margaret Lyle will have a quilt on hand titled "State Flags", and Martin Francis has "American Flags and the History of the U.S.A.".

Trenton, New Jersey goes back before the American Revolution and therefore can boast some important flag sites. Among the tours of the area will be the Old Barracks, built in 1758 during the French and Indian War. There are other tours that will be scheduled (you will be delightfully surprised) but Don Healy, NA VA XX Host, explains that there are so many worthwhile tours that can be arranged and so little time to schedule them all that conferees may have to plan extra time after the conference to enjoy them.

Remember to bring your personal flags for display at the Annual Ban­quet. This year the guest speaker is scheduled to be Prince Haile Selassie II who will provide N A V A conferees with an historical study of the flags and arms of Ethiopia representing the reign of the last emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I. His presentation should be most interesting.

The Bordentown Sheraton is on Route 206 and Dunns Mill Road off New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 7. Call 800-325-3535 for reservations. The NA V A XX rate is $42/ day single and $45/day double. The registration fee is a modest $55 which includes con­ference materials, meals, tours, and banquet seating. Send check or money order payable to NA VA XX to: Don Healy, NA V A XX Host, 523 Centre St., Trenton, NJ 08611 today!

Canadian Update

On July 1,,1985 new uniforms were introduced for air, sea, and land per­sonnel in the Canadian Forces. Can­ada does not have a separate army, navy, and air service but there has been a growing sentiment to recreate the separate forces originally unified in the 1960s. Unofficially, a reflection of this can be seen in the flags flown at military bases. Land forces con­tinue to use the Canadian Armed Forces Ensign established in January 1968 (see THE FLAG BULLETIN, Volume VII, No.2). Some naval bases instead fly the jack of Canadian Forces ships, while the Air Command flag is now being flown alone at air bases. In each case the national flag is also flown if there is a second pole.

NEW BRUNSWICK: In anticipa­tion of its bicentennial year (1981) New Brunswick looked into the pos­sibility of having augmentations of honor assigned to the coat of arms it had originally received from Queen Victoria in 1868. A grant by Queen Elizabeth was finally made on 25 Sep­tember, 1984, assigning supporters (white-tailed deer wearing shields with the Union Jack and the arms of France Modern); a helm surmounted by a coronet, Atlantic salmon, and royal crown; a compartment with flddleheads and purple violets; and the motto SPEM REDUXIT ("Hope Restored "). The latter is a reference to the Loyalists who settled in the pro­vince after they fled the United States in 1784. The other design elements are references to New Brunswick tradi­tions or typical local flora and fauna.

from: the Flag Bulletin XXIX: 6/114

Page 3

EDITOR'S NOTES - at presstime

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Since I will not seek reappointment after Trenton, I would like to thank my colleagues at the Curry Foundation for their patience and advice during my stint as your editor and especially you, the reader, for' your patience and understanding when mistakes were found. Editing the NAVA ( NEWS has been very self-satisfying. Try it sometime •••••• QFFICERS NOMINATED: According to the Nominating Committee, the following have agreed to be nomi­nated as the NAVA Executive Board for the 1986-1987 term: PRESIDENT--Doreen Braverman; VICE PRESIDENT--Jim Ferriganj CORRESPONDING SECRETARY--Mark Liss; RECORDING SECRETARY--Rich Kenny; TREASURER--Gus Tracchia. Further nominations from the floor are in order during NAVA XX's general meeting ••••• CONGRATULATIONS to NAVA student member Anne M. Ripper who was recently mar­ried to Michael Platoff of Manhattan, Kansas •••••• liFDATE: Dave ott of Texas adds other places where flags are displayed to the public (see Letters to the Editor last issue). For Confederate Flags: The Confederate Museum in Austin, TX and The Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA. The Star of the Republic Museum in Washington, TX and the Texas State Library (Archives Division) in Austin, TX also may have some historic flags for public viewing; and the Institute of Texas Cultures in San Antonio, TX fly flags of various ethnic groups located in Texas •••••• SEALS: Virginia license plates now feature the Great Seal of Virginia ••• The House Judiciary Committee held hearings August 14, 1986 to amend Title 4 of the US Code to complete the Great Seal of the United States. Remember, the Seal was adopted in 1782, but only a die for the obverse was made. H.R. 1670 would also create a die for the reverse thereby completing the Great Seal of the US. For more informa­tion, write your congressional representative •••••• FLASH: Bob Coykendall is improving after a serious heart attack August 20. I'm told that travel to Trenton is out and that Jim Ferrigan will do his best to substitute for Bob on the "Ross-Hopkinson" debate panel. C~rds and letters can be sent to Bob (. at 129 Main Street, Youngstown, New York 14174. We wish you well, Robert!

North American Vexillological Association Oaks, P A 19456

HERMAN

Page 4

I'm sorry, Harold, but I'm not losing you on the subway during rush hour.

from: WASHINGTON POST Feb. /3, /986

N on-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID Oaks, PA

Permit No.9