tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54166520900760259922008-07-31T19:12:43.673-07:00Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-29565965239911578852008-07-31T19:10:00.000-07:002008-07-31T19:12:43.686-07:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F102-712102.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F102-712080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p><strong></strong></p><br /><p><strong>1.</strong> When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>2.</strong> The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right <em>[that means the viewer's left --Webmaster]</em>, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>3.</strong> The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By "half-staff" is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>4.</strong> When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States (the viewer's left). When the flag is half-masted, both flags are half-masted, with the US flag at the mid-point and the other flag below.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>5.</strong> When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>6.</strong> When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>7.</strong> When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>8.</strong> When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>9.</strong> That the flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>10.</strong> The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>11.</strong> When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. The order of precedence for flags generally is National flags (US first, then others in alphabetical order in English), State (host state first, then others in the order of admission) and territories (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, etc.), Military (in order of establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), then other.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>12.</strong> When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium on or off a podium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker (to the right of the audience). Please note that the old guidelines differed from this updated and simplified one.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>13.</strong> When the flag is displayed on a car, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /><strong>14.</strong> When hung in a window, place the blue union in the upper left, as viewed from the street.<br /><br /><br clear="all"><br /></p>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-81405138177006360272008-07-27T22:59:00.000-07:002008-07-27T23:02:20.170-07:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F102-789905.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F102-789855.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"></p><br /><p align="left">The following is the order of precedence of flags, according to Army regulations.</p><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>The <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/">flag of the United States</a>. </li><br /><br /><li>Foreign national flags. (Normally, these are displayed in alphabetical order using the English alphabet.) </li><br /><br /><li>Flag of the President of the United States of America. </li><br /><br /><li>State and territorial flags. Normally, state flags are displayed in order of admittance of the State to the Union. However, they may also be displayed in alphabetical order using the English alphabet. Territorial flags are displayed after the State flags either in the order they were recognized by the United States or alphabetically. </li><br /><br /><li>Military organizational flags of the Services in order of precedence </li><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>Cadets, United States Military Academy </li><br /><br /><li>Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy </li><br /><br /><li>Cadets, United States Air Force Academy </li><br /><br /><li>Cadets, United States Coast Guard Academy </li><br /><br /><li>Midshipmen, United States Merchant Marine Academy </li><br /><br /><li>United States Army </li><br /><br /><li>United States Marine Corps </li><br /><br /><li>United States Navy </li><br /><br /><li>United States Air Force </li><br /><br /><li>United States Coast Guard </li><br /><br /><li>Army National Guard of the United States </li><br /><br /><li>Army Reserve </li><br /><br /><li>Marine Corps Reserve </li><br /><br /><li>Naval Reserve </li><br /><br /><li>Air National Guard of the United States </li><br /><br /><li>Air Force Reserve </li><br /><br /><li>Coast Guard Reserve </li><br /><br /><li>Other training organizations of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, in that order, respectively. </li><br /></ul><br /><br /><li>Military organizational flags within a Service by echelon. The flag for the regimental corps will have precedence immediately before the regimental proponent’s command flag. The regimental corps flag will never have precedence above a MACOM flag. </li><br /><br /><li>Individual flags in order of rank. For the purpose of order of precedence, the term “individual flags” includes the Department of the Army Senior Executive Service flag. </li><br /><br /><li>Other </li><br /></ul><br /><br /><p align="left">When authorized, the following may be flown beneath the flag of the United States:* </p><br /><br /><ul type="disc"><br /><br /><li>The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag </li><br /><br /><li>The Army Savings Program (Minuteman Flag) </li><br /><br /><li>The Retiree flag </li><br /><br /><li>Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award flag </li><br /></ul><br /><br /><p align="left">*Army Regulation 840-10 2-2.c, reads, "The flag of the United States is the only flag that may be flown from a flagpole over a CONUS Army installation unless an exception is granted by TIOH, U.S. Army. However, the Minuteman flag (AR608-15) , the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag, the Retiree flag, or the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award flag, when authorized, may be flown beneath the flag of the United States without referral to TIOH for exception. The POW/MIA flag will be flown beneath the flag of the United States on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May; Memorial Day, the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; National POW/MIA Day; Veterans Day, November 11 and on occasions when the installation is hosting POW/MIA activities. The Retiree flag may be flown on Veterans Day or occasions when the installation is sponsoring activities for retirees such as open house or retiree day. Not more than one flag will be displayed below the flag of the United States and, if displayed, will be approximately 6 inches below the flag of the United States."</p>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-74162917774777901242008-07-24T23:10:00.000-07:002008-07-24T23:12:42.610-07:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F102-714674.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F102-714656.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"><strong></strong></p><br /><p align="left"><strong>Ceremony of Final Tribute:</strong></p><br /><br /><ol type="1"><br /><br /><li>Only one flag should be used in the ceremony, which is representative of all the flags to be burned in the service. The remainder of the flags collected should be incinerated. A corporate, government, or military incinerator or furnace can usually be found for this purpose.</li><br /><br /><li>The ceremony should be conducted out-of-doors, preferably in conjunction with a campfire program, and it should be very special.</li><br /><br /><li>The ceremony involves two color guards, one for the flag currently in use and a special color guard for the flag to be retired from service. Of course, this may be adapted if conditions necessitate.</li><br /><br /><li>Just before sunset the flag which has been flying all day is retired in the normal ceremonial procedure for that location or group.</li><br /><br /><li>The color guard responsible for the flag receiving the final tribute moves to front and center. The leader should present this color guard with the flag which has been selected for its final tribute and subsequent destruction. The leader should instruct the color guard to "hoist the colors."</li><br /><br /><li>Leader comments: (when the flag has been secured at the top of the pole) </li><br /></ol><br /><br /><p align="left">"This flag has served its nation well and long. It has worn to a condition in which it should no longer be used to represent the nation."<br /><br />"This flag represents all of the flags collected and being retired from service today. The honor we show here this evening for this one flag, we are showing for all of the flags, even those not physically here."</p><br /><br /><ol type="1" start="7"><br /><br /><li>The leader should:</li><br /><br /><ul type="circle"><br /><br /><li>Call the group to attention; </li><br /><br /><li>Order a salute; </li><br /><br /><li>Lead the entire group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; and </li><br /><br /><li>Order the flag retired by the color guard. </li><br /><br /><li>Slowly and ceremoniously lower and then respectfully fold the flag in the customary triangle. Deliver the flag to the leader and then dismiss the group. </li><br /></ul><br /><br /><li>This concludes the Ceremony of Final Tribute</li><br /></ol><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong>"Ceremonial Burning"</strong><br /><br /><strong>Fire Preparation:</strong><br /><br />It is important that the fire be sizable -- preferably having burnt down to a bed of red hot coals to avoid bits of the flag being carried off by a roaring fire -- yet be of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.<br /><br /><strong>Flag Preparation:</strong><br /><br />The color guard assigned to the flag opens up it tri-corner fold and then refolds the flag in a coffin-shaped rectangle.<br /><br />When all is ready:</p><br /><br /><ol type="1"><br /><br /><li>Assemble around the fire. The leader calls the group to attention. </li><br /><br /><li>The color guard comes forward and places the flag on the fire. </li><br /><br /><li>All briskly salute. </li><br /><br /><li>After the salute, but while still at attention, the leader should conduct a respectful memorial service as the flag burns. National Flag Foundation recommends singing "God Bless America" followed by an inspiring message of the flag's meaning followed by the "Pledge of Allegiance" and then silence. </li><br /><br /><li>When the flag is basically consumed, those assembled, with the exception of the leader and the color guard, should be dismissed single file and depart in silence. </li><br /><br /><li>The leader and the color guard remain until the flag is completely consumed. </li><br /><br /><li>The fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried. </li><br /></ol>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-38449449363649865772008-02-19T22:41:00.000-08:002008-02-19T22:53:06.722-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/usa-725391.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/usa-725386.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>USA Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f102.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district.And also possesses several territories, or insular areas, that are scattered around the Caribbean and Pacific.<br />The term America, for the lands of the western hemisphere, was coined in the early sixteenth century after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer and cartographer. The full name of the country was first used officially in the Declaration of Independence, which was the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" adopted by the "Representatives of the united States of America" on July 4, 1776.[10] The current name was finalized on November 15, 1777, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first of which states, "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'" Common abbreviations of the United States of America include the United States, the U.S., and the U.S.A. Colloquial names for the country include America and the States.<br />The flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The creator of the U.S. Flag is popularly considered to be Betsy Ross. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 U.S. states and the 13 stripes represent the original Thirteen Colonies that rebelled against the British crown and became the first states in the Union.[1] Nicknames for the flag include the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory,[2] and the Star-Spangled Banner (also the name of the country's official national anthem).<br /><br />Because of its symbolism, the starred blue canton is called the "union". This part of the national flag can stand alone as a maritime flag called the Union Jack[3] which served as the U.S. jack on warships from 1777 until 2002. It continues to be used as a jack by various federally-owned vessels, including those of the Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Capital: Washington, D.C.<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Largest City: New York City<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>National languages: English<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Independence from Great Britain<br /><br />- Declared July 4, 1776<br /><br />- Recognized September 3, 1783<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner"<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Bird: Bald eagle<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Motto: In God We Trust<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-9126528954446749202008-02-18T22:11:00.000-08:002008-02-18T22:20:43.209-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/canada-province-yukon-781757.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/canada-province-yukon-781750.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Canada Yukon Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f313.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Yukon is the westernmost of Canada's three territories. It was named after the Yukon River, Yukon meaning "Great River" in Gwich’in.<br /><br />The flag of Yukon, Canada, is a green, white, and blue tricolour with the Coat of Arms of Yukon at the centre above a wreath of fireweed, the territorial flower. An official flag for Yukon was created during the 1960s, a decade where the National Flag of Canada was chosen as well as several other provincial flags were created. The Flag of Yukon was officially selected from a territory-wide design competition in 1967, with the winning design adopted on March 1, 1968.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Capital: Whitehorse<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Largest City: Whitehorse<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Official languages: English, French<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Flower: Fireweed<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Bird: Common Raven<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Tree: Subalpine Fir<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></strong><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-4481245742602205022008-02-18T22:01:00.000-08:002008-02-18T22:11:09.934-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/canada-province-nunavut-707169.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/canada-province-nunavut-707159.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Canada Nunavut Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f308.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Nunavut is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999 via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries were established in 1993.<br /><br />The Flag of Nunavut was proclaimed on 1 April 1999, along with the territory of Nunavut in Canada.<br /><br />It features a red inukshuk—an Inuit land marker—and a blue star, which represents both the Niqirtsuituq, the North Star, and the leadership of elders in the community. The colours represent the riches of the land, sea and sky.<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Capital: Iqaluit<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Largest City: Iqaluit<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Official languages: Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English, French<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Flower: Purple Saxifrage<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Bird: Rock Ptarmigan<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Motto: Nunavut Sannginivut ( "Our land, our strength")<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></strong><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-57085960514300157862008-02-17T22:42:00.000-08:002008-02-17T23:00:43.031-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/international-mexico-786176.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/international-mexico-786166.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>National Mexico Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f5141.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The Flag of the United Mexican States or Mexico is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe. While the meaning of the colors has changed over time, these three colors were adopted by Mexico following independence from Spain during the country's War of Independence. The current flag was adopted in 1968, but the overall design has been used since 1821 when the First National Flag was created. The current law of national symbols, Law on the National Arms, Flag, and Anthem, that governs the use of the national flag has been in place since 1984.<br />Originally, the colors had the following meanings:<br /><br />Green: Independencia (independence from Spain)<br />White: Religión (religion, the Roman Catholic faith)<br />Red: Unión (union between the Europeans and Americans)<br /><br />However, the meaning of the colors changed because of the secularization of the country, which was spearheaded by President Benito Juárez.The new color meanings are as follows:<br /><br />Green: Hope<br />White: Unity<br />Red: Blood of the national heroes<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Capital: Mexico City<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Largest City: Mexico City<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>National languages: Spanish<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Independence from Spain<br /><br />- Declared September 16, 1810<br /><br />- Recognized September 27, 1821<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Anthem: Himno Nacional Mexicano<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Origin of the Name: The origin of the name of the Mexica is obscure and subject to diverse interpretations. Some argue that it derives from the Nahuatl Mexitl or Mexitli, a secret name for the god of war and patron of the Aztecs, Huitzilopochtli, in which case Mexico means "Place where Mexitli lives". Another hypothesis is that the word Mexiko derives from the metztli ("moon"), xictli ("navel", "center" or "son"), and the suffix -co (place), in which case it means "Place at the center of the moon" or "Place at the center of the Lake Moon", in reference to Lake Texcoco. The system of interconnected lakes, of which Texcoco was at the center, had the form of a rabbit, the same image that the Aztecs saw in the moon. Tenochtitlan was located at the center (or navel) of the lake (or rabbit/moon). Still another hypothesis suggests that it is derived from Mectli, the goddess of maguey.<br /><br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></strong>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-3100232360741525122008-02-17T22:35:00.000-08:002008-02-17T22:42:18.489-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/international-canada-743702.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/international-canada-743694.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>National Canada Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f542.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf and l'Unifolié (French for "the one-leafed") , is a base red flag with a white square in its centre featuring a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. Before this flag, Canada used variants of the British Red Ensign with the shield of Canada charged in the fly. The Red Ensign that took familiar shape in Canada was introduced by Prime Minister Mackenzie King after the First World War. From the 1940s until 1965, Canada made several attempts to create its own flag by holding national contests, but the Red Ensign still flew for Canada. A serious debate about a flag change did not occur until 1964, when a committee was picked by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Out of three choices, the maple leaf design by George F.G. Stanley was chosen as the winner. The flag made its first appearance on February 15, 1965, which is now celebrated annually as Flag Day.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Capital: Ottawa<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Largest City: Toronto<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Official languages: English, French<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Status: world's second largest country by total area<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Anthem: "O Canada"<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Motto: A Mari Usque Ad Mare (Latin) "From Sea to Sea"<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Origin of the Name: The name Canada comes from a St. Lawrence Iroquoian word kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement." In 1535, inhabitants of the present-day Quebec City region used the word to direct explorer Jacques Cartier toward the village of Stadacona. Cartier used the word 'Canada' to refer to not only that village, but the entire area subject to Donnacona, Chief at Stadacona. By 1545, European books and maps began referring to this region as Canada.<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-34761534734090651052008-02-14T20:02:00.000-08:002008-02-14T20:08:19.577-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-pow-mia-729774.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-pow-mia-729765.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Pow-Mia Standard Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1346.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Only one flag besides the Stars and Stripes that represents the United States has ever flown over the White House in Washington, DC. Only one flag is ever displayed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. That flag is not one that represents an individual state, branch of service, or other select group. It is the POW/MIA (Prisoners of War/Missing In Action) Flag that calls to mind the sacrifice and plight of those Americans who have sacrificed their own freedom, to preserve liberty for all of us. It's presence serves to remind us that, while we enjoy the privileges of freedom, somewhere there are soldiers who have not been accounted for and may, in fact, be held against their will by the enemies of Freedom.<br /><br />The POW/MIA flag is an american flag designed as a symbol of the citizens concern about the United States military personel taken as prisoners of war and missing in action. The POW/MIA flag was created by the National League of Families and officially recognized by the United States Congress "as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation."<br /><br />On March 9, 1989, an official League flag, which flew over the White House on 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda as a result of legislation passed by the 100th Congress.<br /><br /><br />Congress has set aside the THIRD FRIDAY of September in each year as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. It is a time to remember those who never came home. Congress has further recognized the POW/MIA flag of the National League of Families as the official flag to represent our missing soldiers.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-20681365965271304642008-02-14T01:10:00.000-08:002008-02-14T19:41:29.665-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F1020-766273.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/F1020-766269.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Rebel Confederate States of America Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1020.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p>The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) was the name of the former government formed by eleven southern states of the United States of America between 1861 and 1865. However, since the CSA was never recognized by other countries, by international law and custom, it was never properly an independent country.</p><br /><br /><p>Seven states declared their independence from the United States before Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President; four more did so after the Civil War began at the Battle of Fort Sumter. The United States of America ("The Union") held secession illegal and refused recognition of the Confederacy. Although British and French commercial interests sold it warships and materials, no European nation officially recognized the CSA.</p><br /><p>The CSA effectively collapsed when Robert E. Lee and Joseph Johnston surrendered their armies in April of 1865. The last meeting of its Cabinet took place in Georgia in May. Nearly all remaining Confederate forces surrendered by the end of June. A decade-long process known as Reconstruction temporarily gave civil rights and the right to vote to the freedmen, expelled ex-Confederate leaders from office, and re-admitted the states to representation in Congress.</p><br /><p>The Confederate States of America used several flags during its existence from 1861 to 1865. Since the end of the American Civil War, personal and official use of Confederate flags, and of flags derived from these, has continued under considerable controversy. Currently the state flags of Mississippi and Georgia draw heavily upon Confederate flag designs, and those of Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee arguably incorporate certain elements from these designs.</p><br /><p>What is now often called "The Confederate Flag" or "The Confederate Battle Flag" (actually a combination of the Battle Flag's colors with the Second Navy Jack's design), despite its never having historically represented the CSA as a nation, has become a widely recognized symbol of the South. It is also called the "rebel" or "Dixie" flag, and is often incorrectly referred to as the "Stars and Bars" (the actual "Stars and Bars" is the First National Flag, which used an entirely different design).</p><br /><p>The use of the flag by soldiers came under investigation after some African-American soldiers filed complaints. By the end of World War II, the use of the Confederate flag in the military was rare.[20] However, the Confederate flag continues to be flown in an unofficial manner by many Southern soldiers, who make up a plurality of the United States Armed Forces. It was seen many times in Korea, Vietnam, and in the Middle East.</p><br /><p>Soon after his inauguration as provisional president on February 18, 1861, Davis appointed his first cabinet; each of the six members represented a different state. The first task of the administration was to prepare for the impending conflict. Between December 30, 1860, and February 18, 1861, the Confederates had seized 11 federal forts and arsenals from South Carolina to Texas and harassed Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Lincoln, in his inaugural address on March 4, 1861, rejected the right of secession but attempted to conciliate the South. Negotiations for the relief of Fort Sumter failed, and on April 12 the bombardment of the fort began. Three days later Lincoln announced that an insurrection had occurred, and he called for volunteers.</p><br /><p>The number of states in the Confederacy was increased to 11 by the secession of Virginia in April and of Arkansas and North Carolina in May, followed by Tennessee in June. The provisional Confederate Congress, which had met for four sessions between February 4, 1861 and February 17, 1862, was replaced by a permanent legislature on February 18, 1862. The Confederate capital was moved on May 24, 1861 from Montgomery to Richmond, Virginia. At the first general elections held under the permanent constitution on November 6, 1861, Davis was elected president and Stephens vice president. In February 1862, Davis was inaugurated president for a term of 6 years. The last years of his service were marked by the conflict between the civil and military forces and gave rise to the assertion that the government of the Confederacy had become a military dictatorship. The tendency toward dictatorship was increased by the custom of holding secret sessions of the Congress, by the practice of cabinet officers exercising their rights to sit in Congress, and by the gradual lowering of the political morale and independence of Congress. This condition was further complicated by personal controversies among officials. The first permanent Congress held four sessions; the second Congress, two sessions, with the final adjournment of the body taking place on March 18, 1865.<br /><br /></p><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/military-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Military Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/pirate-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Pirate Flags</span></a> </p></strong></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-48801196414600269692008-02-12T23:49:00.000-08:002008-02-12T23:54:20.448-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-Crimson-785624.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-Crimson-785622.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p><strong>Crimson Pirate Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1220.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The Crimson Pirate is a 1952 film directed by Robert Siodmak. The color film stars Burt Lancaster as "The Crimson Pirate" Capt. Vallo. The film centers on Vallo and his equally acrobatic side kick Ojo (Nick Cravat). Ojo is mute in the film because Cravat had a thick East Coast accent. This mean pirate skull is so tough he has a knife in his mouth.<br /><br />Captain Vallo (Burt Lancaster), a pirate known as 'The Crimson Pirate', and his crew capture a ship of the King's navy. The ship is carrying Baron Gruda (Leslie Bradley), the special envoy to the King, who is on his way to the Island of Cobra to help crush a rebellion by rebels opposed to the King's rule. Vallo proposes to make money by selling the weapons on the ship to El Libre, the leader of the rebels. Baron Gruda then proposes to pay Vallo money if he can capture El Libre and bring him to him. Vallo accepts and Baron Gruda and his crew are released, Vallo keeping their ship and releasing Gruda and his men onto his own. While some of the pirates complain that this is not pirate business, they soon come around when they find out the amount of money to be made.<br />Vallo and his crew sail to Cobra, where Vallo and his lieutenant Ojo (Nick Cravat) go ashore to meet the rebels. They eventually meet the rebels who are led by Pablo Murphy (Noel Purcell) and Consuelo (Eva Bartok), where they learn that El Libre has been captured and is in a military prison on the island of San Pero. The meeting is interrupted when they are discovered by the King's guards. Consuelo leads Vallo and Ojo to safety, then they all go to the ship. Vallo tells the crew he will rescue El Libre, though Consuelo only believes Vallo is interested in selling weapons to him. She promises him he will get the money. Consuelo also tells Vallo El Libre is her father.<br /><br />They sail to San Pero. Vallo, dressing in the clothes left on board the ship, pretends to be Baron Gruda and goes to a dinner held in honour of Gruda by the Colonel of the garrison (Frank Pettingell). The Colonel shows Vallo El Libre (Frederick Leister) and another captured rebel, Professor Elihu Prudence (James Hayter). Vallo orders the prisoners to be released into his custody and leaves with them. They all go to the ship which then leaves for Cobra.<br /><br />Consuelo is grateful to Vallo for rescueing her father but is distraught to find out that Vallo intens to sell her, El Libre and the Professor to Baron Gruda. Ojo suggests to Vallo that he is in love with Consuelo. Vallo denies this but decides to release them instead of selling them to Gruda. Consuelo begs Vallo to come with them but he refuses. Unknown to Vallo, his first mate, Humble Bellows (Torin Thatcher), overhears them. Bellows plots against Vallo, sending one of the pirates ashore with a message for Gruda.<br /><br />Vallo lets El Libre and Consuelo go first, but the King's guards are waiting. El Libre is killed and Consuelo is captured. The pirates mutiny and Humble Bellows is elected Captain. Baron Gruda promises Bellows money for dealing with Vallo. Vallo, Ojo and the Professor are cast adrift in a boat to die. Gruda proposes a toast, giving the pirates a barrel of rum. Unknown to the pirates, the rum is drugged and when they fall asleep, they are captured, transferred back to Vallo's ship and held prisoners for Gruda to sell them to the King.<br /><br />Baron Gruda tells Consuelo that she will marry Herman (Eliot Makeham), the Governor of Cobra or he will kill the people of Cobra. Consuelo agrees, Gruda then announcing the date of the wedding and forcing the people to attend. Meanwhile, Vallo, Ojo and the Professor manage to escape back to Cobra where they find out about the wedding. Vallo intends to rescue Consuelo but the Professor tells him he needs the help of the people. Vallo agrees, and along with the Professor builds weapons and trains the people how to use them. They make nitroglycerin bombs, tanks, flamethrowers and a hot air balloon.<br /><br />On the day of the wedding, the people revolt before the ceremony and overthrow the guards. Baron Gruda manages to escape to his ship, taking Consuelo with him. Vallo and Ojo go after them, taking the hot air balloon. They spot their ship, climb down to it and release the pirates. They then go after Gruda's ship. When they get close to the ship, Vallo orders the pirates below deck, making Gruda think they are about to launch a broadside. They sneak out the back of the ship, and swim underwater to Gruda's ship. Gruda launches a broadside against Vallo's ship, destroying it. Vallo and the pirates then board Gruda's ship and fight with Gruda and his guards. The guards are defeated and Gruda is killed. Vallo and Consuelo embrace.<br /><br />Red as blood, the crimson pirate flag wards off any attacker.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-38400317714442374912008-02-12T23:36:00.000-08:002008-02-12T23:44:25.398-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-jack-rackham-787680.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-jack-rackham-787677.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Pirate Jack Rackham Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1209.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>John Rackam, also known as Calico Jack because of his clothing preferences, was only a moderately successful pirate who is mainly remembered for his association with two women pirates. Rather than attacking plump rich targets, Rackam preferred using a small sloop to attack local merchants and fishing vessels.<br /><br />In 1718, Rackam served as quartermaster on Charles Vane's pirate ship. On November 23, Vane's ship encountered a French man-of-war in the Windward Passage and he decided to retreat from the battle rather than try to board the warship. Many of the crew felt differently on this matter, including Rackam. The next day, Rackam and crew confronted Vane and stated he was a coward. The crew elected Calico Jack as the new captain and Vane and his fellow supporters were set off on a small sloop. And within the day, Calico Jack was able to plunder several small vessels and continued to plunder more around Jamaica. One vessel taken had a Jamaican tavernkeeper, Hosea Tisdale, onboard that Rackam and the crew were acquinted with and after plundering the vessel, he released the captive crew and made sure the tavernkeeper had a safe voyage home.<br /><br />In May 1719 Rackam sailed to the Bahamas for a pardon and settled down there soon after. While in a local tavern he met Anne Bonny whom he soon started to court. When she became pregnant he took her to some friends he had in Cuba to take care of her during her preganancy. Once their money began to run out, Rackam returned to piracy and convinced Bonny to come with him, which she did, only disguised as a man. He again went back to plundering his standard small local merchants in the West Indies. On one of the vessels was Mary Read who would also join Rackam's crew without anyone knowing (yet) her true sexuality.<br /><br />On August 20, 1720 Rackam and eleven others stole the anchored sloop William in Nassau harbor during the night. Governor Woodes Rogers learnt of this and soon issued a proclamation stating who was responsible for the piracy. In addtion to this, he sent two sloops with 45 men out to find Rackam. At this time, Calico Jack was attacking fishing vessels in Jamaica and continued to plunder small vessels for about the next month along the West Indies.<br /><br />Captain Jonathan Barret's privateer sloop caught up with Calico Jack's stolen William anchored near Nigril Bay in early October. Rackam immediately set sail to escape the well-armed sloop but at about ten o'clock at night Barret caught up to Rackam. Barret ordered him to surrender and in response Rackam and his crew sent him a shot from a swivel gun along with a few words. The nighttime duel did not last too long though, soon Barret's sloop had damaged William's boom and effectively knocked her out of commision. When Barret's crew boarded William, only Anne Bonny and Mary Read defended the attackers while the rest of the pirates, including Rackam, simply surrendered without a fight.<br /><br />On November 16, 1720, Rackam and 11 of his male crewmen were convicted and sentenced to death in St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica (the two women were tried later.) Rackam was able to see his lover Anne Bonny once before his execution and she stated to him "that she was sorry to see him there, but if he had fought like a man, he need not have been hanged like a dog." On November 19-20, Rackam and his crewmen were hanged and their bodies were placed in chains and hung at various locations on the islands as a deterant and message to fellow pirates. Rackam's was hung on an island near Port Royal called Deadman's Cay, now fittingly named Rackam's Cay. Thus ended the life of the pirate Calico Jack. While he only plundered mainly local small vessels in the Caribbean, he is unique in having had not one, but two, women pirates disguised as men in his crew.<br /><br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-51292265322968671002008-02-01T18:48:00.001-08:002008-02-01T18:50:37.340-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-brethren-of-the-coast-734509.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-brethren-of-the-coast-734504.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Pirate Brethren of the Coast Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1204.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>The Brethren of the Coast were a loose coalition of pirates and privateers commonly known as buccaneers and active in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.<br /><br />They were a syndicate of captains with letters of marque and reprisal who regulated their privateering enterprises within the community of privateers and with their outside benefactors. They were primarily private individual merchant mariners of Protestant background usually of English and French origin.<br /><br />During their heyday when the Thirty Years War was devastating the Protestant communities of France, Germany, and the Netherlands and England was engaged in various conflicts, the privateers of these nationalities were issued letters of marque to raid Catholic French and Spanish shipping and territories.<br /><br />Based primarily on the island of Tortuga off the coast of Haiti and the city of Port Royal on the island of Jamaica. The original Brethren were mostly French Huguenot and British Protestants, but their ranks were joined by other adventurers of various nationalities including, Spaniards, and even African sailors, as well as escaped slaves and outlaws of various sovereigns.<br /><br />In keeping with their Protestant and mostly Common Law heritage the Brethren were governed by codes of conduct that favored legislative decision-making, hierarchical command authority, individual rights, and equitable division of revenues.<br /><br />Henry Morgan is perhaps the most famous member of the Brethren and the one usually noted with codifying it's organization. However, following the demographic changes which featured the rise of slave labor in the Caribbean islands, most maritime families moved to the mainland colonies of the future United States or to their home countries. A few, unable to compete effectively with slave labor, enamored of easy riches, or out of angst continued to maintain the Brethren of the Coasts as a purely criminal organization which preyed upon all civilian maritime shipping. This second era of the Brethren began the start of the age of piracy and brigandage which featured the Caribbean until socioeconomic and military changes of the late 18th and early 19th century finally broke its back.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-8764640524993681982008-02-01T18:32:00.000-08:002008-02-01T18:45:24.068-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-black-beard-lives-715590.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-black-beard-lives-715582.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Pirate Black Beard Lives Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1203.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Edward Teach (c. 1680 – November 22, 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic during the early 18th century, a period referred to as the Golden Age of Piracy. His best known vessel was the Queen Anne's Revenge, which is believed to have run aground near Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina in 1718.<br /><br />Blackbeard often fought, or simply showed himself, wearing a big feathered tricorn, and having multiple swords, knives, and pistols at his disposal. It was reported in the General History of the Pirates that he had hemp and lit matches woven into his enormous black beard during battle. Blackbeard is the premier image of the seafaring pirate.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Nickname: Blackbeard<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Type: Pirate<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Place of birth: Bristol, England<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Place of death: Ocracoke, North Carolina<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Years of service: 1712 – 1718<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Rank: Captain<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Base of Operations: Atlantic<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-87527910104124128672008-01-31T19:36:00.000-08:002008-01-31T20:39:23.894-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-regular-787504.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/pirate-regular-787502.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Pirate Regular Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1201.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The pirate flag, or Jolly Roger as it was also known was meant to strike fear into the hearts any merchant that saw it. It probably traces its origins to the plain black flag that a ship would fly to warn another to surrender at once. They were used to intimidate the enemy or victim, and the flag was designed to conjure up fear and dread. It was an important part of the pirate armory, and was the pirate's best form of psychological warfare, especially when combined with a preceding reputation of not showing any quarter if opposed. Threatening images on the flag were often associated with a known pirate, or could conjure up more specific warnings.<br />In popular legend, every pirate flag displayed a skull above crossed bones or crossed swords. However, there was ample variation, since every crew wanted a unique flag. Of these, the most common symbol was the skull, the symbol of death. It was also frequently depicted in association with crossed bones, another death symbol. Other symbols were complete skeletons, spears, swords, hourglasses, initials, hearts, crossed swords, wings and raised glasses. Apart from the death association with bones, skeletons and skulls, dancing skeletons meant dancing a jig with death, a fatalistic reference the flyer didn't care about his fate. This was also the origin of the raised glass symbol ('toasting death'). Weapons were a portent of slaughter to come, while hourglasses and wings indicated that time was running out (or flying away). All these symbols can be found in contemporary allegorical paintings of death, or on gravestones. And also the symbols were often combined.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-10776726896384199262008-01-31T19:30:00.000-08:002008-01-31T19:35:25.260-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-navy-752612.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-navy-752604.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>US Navy Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1363.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The flag of the United States Navy consists of the Seal of the Department of the Navy in the center, above a yellow scroll inscribed "United States Navy" in dark blue letters, against a dark blue background. It is 4 feet 4 inches hoist by 5 feet 6 inches fly, of dark blue material, with yellow fringe, 2½ inches wide. In the center of the flag is a device 3 feet 1 inch overall consisting of the inner pictorial portion of the seal of the Department of the Navy (with the exception that a continuation of the sea has been substituted for the land area), in its proper colors within a circular yellow rope edging, all 2 feet 6 inches in diameter above a yellow scroll inscribed "UNITED STATES NAVY" in dark blue letters;<br /><br />The flag was officially adopted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 24, 1959. It is used on land in offices, in parades and for ceremonial occasions, and often on a staff at the quarterdeck of ships in port. It is never flown by ships at sea, nor on outdoor flagpoles on naval land installations, and is not used as an identifying mark of U.S. Navy ships and facilities, as is the U.S. Coast Guard ensign.<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-37973918530658697142008-01-30T20:06:00.000-08:002008-01-30T20:11:15.330-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-marine-corps-714348.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-marine-corps-714338.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><strong>US Marine Corps Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1361.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. While administratively under the Department of the Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps is a separate branch of the military, often working closely with US Naval forces for training, transportation, and logistic purposes.<br /><br />Originally organized as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 as naval infantry, the Marine Corps has evolved in its mission with changing military doctrine and American foreign policy. The Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict including the Revolutionary War. It attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practice of amphibious warfare proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of World War II.By the mid 20th century, the Marine Corps had become the dominant theorist of amphibious warfare.Its ability to respond rapidly to regional crises has made it, and continues to make it, an important body in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.<br /><br />The United States Marine Corps, with 186,300 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines as of November 30, 2007, is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense (the Coast Guard, about one fifth the size of the Marine Corps, is under the Department of Homeland Security). The Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers; for example, it is larger than the active duty Israel Defense Forces.<br /><br />The Flag of the United States Marine Corps (also known as a standard or battle color) is scarlet with the Corps emblem in gray and gold. It was adopted on January 18, 1939, although Marine Corps Order 4 had established scarlet and gold and the official colors of the Corps as early as 1925. The indoor/parade version is bordered by a gold fringe while the outdoor version is plain. It measures 55 inches on the hoist and 62 inches on the fly.<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-58104876440781587672008-01-30T19:39:00.000-08:002008-01-30T19:44:08.266-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-blue-star-service-790454.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-blue-star-service-790451.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Blue Star Service Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1322.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>A Service Flag in the United States is an official banner that family members of service members in harm's way can display. The flag is defined as a white field with a red border, with a blue star for each family member in active duty. A gold star (with a blue edge) represents a family member that died during service, without specifying cause of death. The deceased might have been killed in action, or died due to unrelated causes.<br /><br />The Service Flag can also be called a Blue Star Service Banner or a Gold Star Service Banner depending on the color of stars. At times it was called Son(s) in the Service, no longer considered proper.<br /><br />The banner was designed in 1917 by United States Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the Fifth Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I. It was quickly adopted by the public and by government officials. On 1917-09-24, an Ohio congressman read into the Congressional Record:<br />The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the Governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother — their children.<br /><br />These flags were first used in World War I, with subsequent standardization and codification by the end of World War II. They were not popular during the Vietnam Conflict but have come back into use. In modern usage, an organization may fly a service flag if one of its members is serving active duty.<br /><br />Blue and gold are the only colors specified for use.<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-62355140032943441582008-01-30T00:43:00.000-08:002008-01-30T00:48:52.580-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-coast-guard-784110.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-coast-guard-784107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><strong>Coast Guard Regular Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1323.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>The flag of the United States Coast Guard is white with a dark blue Great Seal of the United States. The shield on the eagle's breast has a blue chief over vertical red and white stripes. Inscribed in an arc above the eagle is "UNITED STATES COAST GUARD"; below the eagle is the Coast Guard motto, "SEMPER PARATUS" ("Always Ready") and beneath that the numerals 1790 the year in which the service's ancestor, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, was founded. All inscriptions are dark blue.<br />The origins of the Coast Guard standard are very obscure. One theory states that it might have evolved from an early jack. There is at least one contemporary painting supporting this theory. In an 1840 painting, the Revenue cutter Alexander Hamilton flies a flag very similar to that of today’s Coast Guard as a jack. This flag, like the union jack, appears to be the canton or upper corner of the Revenue cutter ensign.<br />An illustration in 1917 shows the Coast Guard standard as a white flag with a blue eagle and 13 stars in a semi-circle surrounding it. Later, the words, "United States Coast Guard-- Semper Paratus" were added.<br />After 1950, the semi-circle of stars was changed to the circle containing 13 stars. The Coast Guard standard is used during parades and ceremonies and is adorned by the Coast Guard's 34 battle streamers. The Coast Guard are unique to the other services for it has two official flags, the Coast Guard standard and the Coast Guard ensign.<br />The current flag was officially adopted on January 28, 1964.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-31200264238517596162008-01-29T00:16:00.000-08:002008-01-29T00:23:47.260-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-82nd-airborne-780923.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-82nd-airborne-780917.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p><strong>82nd Airborne white Flag Flag</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1312.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army is an elite airborne infantry division and was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on March 5, 1917, and was organized on March 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Since members of the division came from all 48 states, the unit was given the nickname “All-American.” This is the basis for its famed “AA” shoulder patch. Famous soldiers of the division include Sergeant Alvin C. York, General James M. Gavin and former Chief Dave Bald Eagle (Sitting Bull grandson).<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Active: 1902 – present<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Role: Vertical Envelopment Forced Entry<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Branch: Regular Army<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Type: Infantry Airborne Infantry<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Garrison/HQ: Fort Bragg, NC<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Nickname: “All-American”"America's Guard of Honor"<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Motto: “ALL THE WAY!”<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-10441958392856141952008-01-28T23:52:00.000-08:002008-01-29T00:08:36.922-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-1st-cavalry-758694.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-1st-cavalry-758686.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>1st Cavalry Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1308.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The 1st Cavalry Division ("First Team") is a heavy armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Hood, Texas. It is the largest division of the U.S. Army with 16,700 soldiers. Currently the 1st Cavalry Division is attached to the U.S. Army III Corps and is commanded by Major General Joseph F. Fil, Jr.<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Flag description: On a yellow triangular Norman shield with rounded corners 5 1/4 inches in height overall, a black diagonal stripe extending over the shield from upper left to lower right and in the upper right a black horse's head cut off diagonally at the neck all within a 1/8 inch green border. </strong></p><br /><p><strong>Symbolism: Yellow, the traditional cavalry color, and the horse's head refer to the division's original cavalry structure. Black, symbolic of iron, alludes to the transition to tanks and armor. The black diagonal stripe represents a sword baldric and is a mark of military honor; it also implies movement "up the field" and thus symbolizes aggressive elan and attack. The one diagonal bend, as well as the one horse's head, also alludes to the division's numerical designation. The line is also said to symbolize the border that now separates North and South Korea. An ongoing joke amongst other divisions is that the line is the line they never crossed (reference to the fact that orders were to push Korean troops beyond the line) the horse they never rode (1st Cavalry has not been a mounted division since 1941) and yellow for cowardice.<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Active: September 13, 1921 - Present<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Branch: Regular Army<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Type: Heavy Armor division<br /></p></strong><p><strong>Size: 16,700 soldiers<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Part of U.S. Army III Corps<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Garrison/HQ: Fort Hood, Texas<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Nickname: The First Team<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Motto: Live the Legend<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Mascot: Pegasus<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><strong></strong>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-86821801488358656812008-01-28T18:24:00.000-08:002008-01-28T22:54:03.043-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-173rd-airborne-768888.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-173rd-airborne-768883.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>173rd Airborne #B Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1307.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. The brigade is the United States European Command's conventional airborne strategic response force for Europe.<br />Activated in 1915, the 173rd Airborne Brigade saw service in both World War I and World War II, but it is by far best remembered for its actions while serving in the Vietnam War. The brigade was the first major United States ground formation into the country, and served there for six years, losing almost 1,800 soldiers in the process. Well noted for its roles in Operation Hump and Operation Junction City, soldiers of the 173rd received over 7,700 upper tier service medals, including over 6,000 Purple Hearts. The brigade eventually returned to the United States, when it was deactivated in 1972.<br />Reactivated in 2000, the brigade has since served three tours in the Middle East. The 173rd participated in the initial invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and two tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; one in 2005-2006, and another that began in 2007. The brigade is currently serving in the eastern provinces of the country.<br /><br />The 173rd Airborne Brigade currently contains six prime component battalions. The unit's two paratrooper infantry Battalions are 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry Regiment, an association that can be traced back to the unit's World War II service. 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment serves as the unit's mechanized reconnaissance unit. The 173rd Airborne Brigade also has a detachment of field artillery, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.<br />In support of the regular combat forces are the 173rd Special Troops Battalion, and the 173rd Support Battalion. All of these units are Airborne qualified, making the 173rd Airborne Brigade the second largest airborne formation in the United States Army, behind the 82nd Airborne Division.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Active: 1917-08-05 - January 1919<br /><br />1921-06-24 - 1945-09-24<br /><br />1947-05-12 - 1951-12-01<br /><br />1963-03-12 - 1972-01-14<br /><br />2000-10-16 - Present<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Allegiance: Regular Army<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Branch: Infantry<br /></p></strong><br /><br /><p><strong>Type: Airborne Infantry<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Role: USAREUR quick response force<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Part of 7th Army<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Garrison/HQ: Vicenza, Italy<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Nickname: Sky Soldiers<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-41682674255494770642008-01-28T02:05:00.000-08:002008-01-28T02:12:37.822-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-101st-airborne-734251.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-military-101st-airborne-734248.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>101st Airborne Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f1301.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)—nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”—is an airborne division of the United States Army primarily trained for air assault operations. During the Vietnam War, the 101st was redesignated an airmobile division, and later as an air assault division. For historical reasons, it keeps the identifier “airborne”, but does not conduct parachute operations at a division level. Many modern members of the 101st are graduates of the U.S. Army Air Assault School, and wear the Air Assault Badge, but it is not a prerequisite to be assigned to the division. The division is headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the only division in the U.S. Army that has two aviation brigades.<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Active: August 15, 1942–November 30, 1945<br /><br />1948–1950<br /><br />1954–present</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Allegiance: Federal </strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Branch: Regular Army<br /></p></strong><br /><br /><p><strong>Type: Division<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Role: Air Assault Infantry<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Part of XVIII Airborne Corps<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Garrison/HQ:Fort Campbell<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Nickname:“Screaming Eagles”<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Motto: “Rendezvous With Destiny”<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Mascot: Bald Eagle a.k.a. "Old Abe"<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-42929377265067270212008-01-23T17:58:00.000-08:002008-01-23T18:05:42.998-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-territory-puerto-rico-749133.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-territory-puerto-rico-749130.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong>Puerto Rico Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f5174.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Puerto Rico's official flag was adopted in 1952 (on the same day that Puerto Rico became a commonweath). The origins of Puerto Rico's flag are uncertain. There are two competing beliefs; some people think that it was created by Manuel de Besosa and sewn by his daughter, Mima; others think that it was designed by Antonia Velez Alvarado and made by Micaela Dalmau de Carreras.<br />The flag has 5 equal horizontal bands of red and white (the top and bottom bands are red); a blue isosceles triangle anchored on the hoist side has a large white star. The red symbolizes blood, the white symbolizes individual liberty and the rights, and the blue triangle symbolizes the three branches of the republican government (and also the sky and coastal waters of this beautiful Caribbean island).<br />Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth associated with the USA.<br /><br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Capital: San Juan<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Largest City: San Juan<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Languages: Spanish, English<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Land Area: 9,104 sq. km<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Territory's Flower: Puerto Rican Hibiscus<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Territory's Tree: Silk-cotton tree<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Territory's Bird: Stripe-headed tanager<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Territory's Song: The Borinquen Anthem<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Nickname: Isle of Enchantment<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Motto: "John is his name"<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Origin of the Name: Spanish for "rich port"<br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416652090076025992.post-68032939722995441052008-01-22T22:58:00.000-08:002008-01-23T01:12:56.625-08:00<a href="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-state-Washington-D.C.-710550.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://blog.flagsmart.com/uploaded_images/us-state-Washington-D.C.-710548.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><strong>Washington D.C. Flag</strong></div><br /><br /><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Size: 3'x5' most popular size</strong></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/f251.html">Click here to enlarge</a></p><br /><br /><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>The flag of Washington, D.C., was adopted in 1938. Since Washington, D.C., had no official flag, a commission was formed in 1920 to find a design. Headed by A. E. Dubois, the final design was chosen on October 15, 1938. The design was based on the shield from George Washington's family's coat of arms.<br /></p></strong><br /><p><strong>Official Flower: American beauty rose<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Official Tree: Scarlet Oak<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Official Bird: Wood thrush<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Official Song: The Star<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Nickname: D.C.<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Official Motto: "Justia Omnibus"<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Bordering States: Virginia, Maryland<br /></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Origin of the Name: The name Washington was to honor the first president of the USA, George Washington. The name Columbia is in reference to Christopher Columbus.<br /><br /></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Related topics</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/state-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">US State Flags</span></a> <a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/american-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">America Flag</span></a> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)"><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/canada-province-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Canada Flag</span></a> </span><a href="http://www.flagsmart.com/rebel-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Rebel Flag</span></a> <a href="http://flagsmart.com/historical-flags.html"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,255)">Historical Flag</span></a></p></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Sam Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05934493086128090126noreply@blogger.com