A: Hello Martin:   

There were no such flags at the time. Maryland occasionally used the Lord Baltimore colors, and Massachusetts had a tizzy about the Cross of St. George in their militia colors, but no colonies "adopted" flags. Of course the various militia groups within the colonies had flags, but there were no standards other than those of Great Britain. The only flags known from the colonial era are all British military colours.    

In the 1770's Massachusetts adopted a naval flag: green pine on white with motto "an appeal to heaven". Rebellious colonial militia started adopting distinctive local symbols on their flags as well.   The concept of a "state flag" as we know it today dates from the 1890's when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893 Columbian World's Fair.  Texas, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, south Carolina  already had designs that had been used during independence (tx, ca) or colonial (ma, md) or the Civil War (sc) but most others were generated between 1893 and WW I.   

So the short answer to your question is "false."   

Regards, 
Nick Artimovich

I can't join your organization as I am in Perth, Western Australia, and all your meetings seem to be in USA.
Yours sincerely,
Pip 

A: Hello Pip,

The custom of raising a flag at sunrise and lowering it at sunset is indeed a tradition, but one that arose from necessity. On ships, flags were and are the mark of nationality (a ship without a flag being rightfully considered a "pirate"), but before dawn and after dark they are not visible, so that is where the custom came from. As for illuminating flags after dark, this is a custom that has arisen since the advent of electric light, which makes it all possible.

As for joining NAVA, we have many members in other countries, including a few in Australia. We do not see them very often at meetings, but they do get our publications and we receive interesting information from them from time top time about flags and their uses that they observe on the other side of the world.

Thanks for your message, we appreciate hearing from you.

David Martucci

Q: I was wondering if you could tell me more about a flag that I saw.  I know that it must be a Canadian flag, because it has the Union Jack in the left corner.  But what is puzzling to me is that each province had it's own flag with the Union Jack and their coat of arms.  This Particular flag has a coat of arms that represents ALL of the provinces.  Is this a real Canadian flag?  Was it really used?  I am a summer student in Selkirk ON.  I give tours, and several people have asked me about this flag.  Please tell me all you know about it.

Your reply will be much appreciated!
Thank-you!
Sarah

A: Dear Sarah,

Your flag sounds interesting and I wish I could tell you for sure it is not an official flag, but I am not positive. I am sending your request to others at NAVA and hope to find an answer for you.

Sincerely,
Lee L. Herold

Q: Dear Sir:

My brother has been searching for years to find the origin of the checkered flag on car racing tracks - could you please possibly help  ?

I came across the NAVA website after a newspaper article rated the appearance of Canadian Flags earlier today....

An answer to my question would solve an old family debate  !!!!

Many Thanks

Dr. G

A: Dear Dr. G:

Thank you for your inquiry about the origin of the checkered flag. I regret to say I don't know and am forwarding your question to other members of NAVA.  Please let me know if you do not get a response. I am now very curious myself.

Thanks.
Lee L. Herold

POINT:  Mastai on p. 153 says 24 and then shows a 34-star flag, clear as day, rows of 7,7,7,7, 6. 
POINT-- So Proudly We Hail, p.204 says 34.
POINT -- Whitney's books never heard of it; Driver, schmiver, nada.

First 2 folks blithely note that the flag was given to Driver when he was a young ship captain, Mastai says in 1831. The final, official 'Old Glory' episode  took place in 1862 when Union troops got to Nashville and Driver hauled out his flag.

Sure, in 1862 we had 34 states, but if the flag was given to Driver 'in his youth' or in 1831 or thereabouts, what's with the 34 stars? And why does Mastai show the 34-star flag and writes 24 stars, which is a great number for 1831.

Hopelessly clueless ... and I need this before FLAG DAY!

THANKS!!
Peter

A: Peter:

Relax. The answer is ... they ain't the same flag! (What other American answer can there be?)

Here's the facts. The existing Driver flag appears to be the flag William Driver hoisted over Nashville when the Union Army occup... er ... liberated it in 1862. Note that besides the stars it also has an anchor on it.

The legend of naming the flag took place long before this, in the early 1830s is the best bet but there seems to be little consensus on the exact year. Obviously the flag had many fewer stars at the time.

The family legend has it the flag was reworked after Driver retired from the sea to Nashville just before the Civil War.

So, he had this flag he named "Old Glory" flying from his ship for about 30 years, it was "reworked" by his family and then sewn into a quilt and hidden from the Rebs until the Feds arrive, whereupon it is raised over the capitol in Nashville and flew for at least 24 hours before being replaced (Driver slept next to it lest someone should steal it).

In reality, a ship's flag in the 19th century, even though it was seldom flown (only in port and when in sight of another ship), is not likely to survive 30 years relatively intact. In fact the existing Driver flag shows no evidence of incorporating earlier, weather worn materials. It in fact appears to have been made as a whole at the same time.

Conclusion: the existing Driver Flag, while clearly having belonged to the Captain, is not the same flag he reputedly dubbed "Old Glory" some 30 years earlier. Hence the discrepancy in the number of stars.

Peter, you get the prize for having picked up on this. Most sources, even Langley's book, gloss over the situation. He doesn't even mention the earlier legend. According to him, Driver's long-time personal name for his (34 star) flag was "Old Glory" and that the speech he made on February 25, 1862 at the Tennessee Capitol launched the name into the public domain.

He said, "Thank God! I lived to raise Old Glory on the dome of the Capitol of Tennessee; I am now ready to die and go to my forefathers." This was widely reported in the media at the time.

Pro Vexillis!
Dave Martucci

Hi Chris:
     What you are referring to is an exclusively military custom of tying a streamer commemorating a military campaign to the finial of a military color. For example, there are streamers for the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Korean War and many campaigns of the Second World War as well as earlier conflicts. Originally, these streamers were just tied on, but over time,
as more and more of these came into use, a special disc was added below the finial to tie the streamers on in a more organized way.
     The Flags of the World web site has, I believe, several pages devoted to American battle streamers. http://www.digibel.be/flags/

Dave Martucci

I know that, in Odd Fellowship, FLT stands for Friendship, Love & Truth.  My understanding is that FLO originates from another group which is the Fraternity of the Hidden Light, in which FLO stands Fraternitas LUX Occulta.
Erick
(NAVA thanks Erick, a visitor and "amicus curiae."...Ed)

Q: Hi there! I am wondering if you can help me.  My friend was given this flag by his Great-Uncle.  It is obviously King George VI.  We are wondering if it might have to do with his Coronation.  It appears to be hand-painted.
Thank you,
Tammy

A: Hi Tammy:
Thanks for contacting me and sorry (for the delay); I have been away from my email for several days.

The flag you showed was very interesting and I think a coronation flag is a good guess. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you. I have forwarded your message on to the experts at NAVA.

Lee L. Herold

(..we received the following from NAVA member Zach Harden)

A: That British flag with a new king painted on it was a flag used by some people during his coronation. It is not official, but the flag was made to stir pride into the British people with a new king.

Zach Harden

You know the Q&A section of your website; I have an answer to one of your questions (see page 2 - click here). Somebody asked what flag Lief Eriksson used; he used the Raven flag.  The Raven flag is the same exact one used on your cover for Raven: A Journal in Vexillology.  It is from the book, The Saga of the American Flag.

Zachary Harden 
(Note: Zach is 15, and has made some great suggestions for the improvement of the web site...Ed)

Q: Hello,
    My name is Ann and I volunteered in October 2000, to have a T-shirt embroidered for our club with the club emblem/banner.  In the process of having this done I started to research the symbols used.  Using the computer
I found out that this kind of research was being done by people all over the world and has gotten quite interesting, but has brought up some questions which I would like to follow up on and have an accurate history about before I report back to our members and we embroider this emblem and adopt it permanently.

The emblem is comprised of 6 colors and 6 symbols.
           1. a red with white outline and black outer thin line cross. St. George - British Empire 
If you mean a white field with a red cross throughout, then that is the flag of England specifically and not to be taken as a symbol of the Empire.

           2. top left - a shamrock topped by a jeweled crown.  Northern Ireland ? 
Properly speaking the emblem of Ireland is a green field with a golden harp. The arms of the Irish Republic are a blue field with a golden harp. I guess they just wanted to be different.

           3. top right - a white with red center "rose" on a blue background.  England - Tudor (?) rose
The rose is often taken as an English emblem. It is usually a red rose on white. The colors of the Tudors were (are) green and white.

           4. bottom left - a white leek on a blue background Wales - Leek
The proper emblem is for Wales is the Red Dragon. The flag of Wales is white over green with a Red Dragon upon it.

           5. bottom right - a dark green leaf with a light green topped by purple flower on a white background.  
              Scotland - thistle
Scotland has a variety of emblems. The flag is blue with a white saltier (X shaped cross). The arms can be simply described as a gold shield with a red lion, although the actual heraldic description is a bit more complex. The thistle can be in "proper" colors or gold or sliver.

           6. all of the above on a shield topped by a design similar to a scroll with a non-jeweled crown in the
              center of the scroll.
This part seems like pure decoration.

 I have found information regarding the Welsh Leek, the Scottish Thistle, and the Shamrock.  My questions are, "Where can I find information regarding the rose and a good picture of this symbol (ours looks like a peony)?" and, "Regarding the use of the crown over the shamrock in today's politics, as this is a British Heritage club would this be appropriate to use or is it offensive?" 

There are many books on heraldry available, both antique and recent releases. The field of Heraldry is easily researched at any major library. As you said below, you want to do this right. The right start is at the library. The internet is not the end all, be all of human knowledge. If there is anyway that I can help, please feel free to email me.

I have used these web-sites: 
www.democraticdialogue.org/working/flags.htm   
http://community-2.webtv.net/A-SHAMROCK4U/LENGENDOFTHESHAMROCK/
www.pch.gc.ca/symb/armm_e.htm
www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2897/thistle.html
www.mcgrorty,com/thistle.htm
//welshculture.about.com/aboutuk/welshculture/library/weekly/aa111900a.htm
//showcase.netins.net/web/magicman/shamrock.htm
//www.data-wales.co.uk/flag.htm
www.data-wales.co.uk/l_d.htm
www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/Flags/flaguk.html
www.flags.net/UNKG1.htm

There were more I visited, but the above mentioned I have used in my report thus far.  Please help me, our members don't understand what's taking me so long, but after getting started in the research I see the importance of doing this right. It has been a very interesting time and I hope to continue gathering information even if someone else gets voted in to take over this project.

                THANK YOU!
                 Ann   

A: Hi Ann:
Is there anyway that you can send me a photo of this arms? This might help in identifying it. Also, can you tell me a little of your club and what the origin of this emblem may be. Coats-of-arms are an ancient art form that require very exacting specifications with the framework of interpretive art. some emblems are very specific and I will attempt to decipher some of the symbols you mentioned
John Gamez<>

(Note:  This question was sent to one of our research associates, who tactfully and rightfully answered it, saying he could not assign a value to it.  NAVA regularly receives these kinds of requests, but NAVA cannot give appraisals, even if we were in possession of the flag in question.  The legal, professional, and other liability concerns preclude NAVA from offering this service.  From time to time a member's response will mention the price that a particular flag sold for at auction, or is currently listed at auction, but that is far different from the act of appraising a particular questioner's flag.  However, some of our commercial members are able to offer appraisals.  If you have an old flag that you intend to sell please contact a reputable appraiser {see the Commercial Members' page}.  Thanks....Ed)

A: Hello Marcia:
Thank you for your inquiry about the 13 star flag your caller has.

1. The stars are not hand sewn. They are sewn by zigzag machine stitch, and the stitching goes from point to point through the body of the star (i.e., it doesn't follow the outline of the star.)

 2. The date on the heading is 1906, not 1806.  Flags were not identified that way in the early 19th century, but I own an example from the very early 20th century that matches this description very well.

 As far as what the flag is, it is a US Navy Boat Ensign. "Boats", as opposed to ships, were small craft and their flags were so small that the "full" number of stars would not be recognized at a distance, so the Navy used 13 star flags for small boats until 1916. I have a copy of the Navy's 1899 publication "Flags of Maritime Nations" that details the size of "Boat Flags" and a Number 6 should measure 3.52 feet by 6.67 feet. An Ensign Number 8 (Boat Flag)  is 2.37 feet by 4.50 feet. I suspect the printing on the heading is "U.S. Ensigns No. 8", but the specifications could have changed between 1899 and 1906..

 I can also tell you more about this flag without looking at it. The stars are arranged in rows : 3 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3  and they are of cotton, sewn onto a woolen field. The stripes are wool, also.

 The flag's value on eBay  is between $150 and $400 depending on who is bidding at the moment, and, of course, the flag's condition.

 If the owner of this flag brings it in for you to look at, and the information about the two technical details that I have discussed above is incorrect, I will send you $5.00 by PayPal. If I am right, I would like  you to reply and confirm what I have said, including any other comments you can make about the flag.

 13 star boat flags are so commonly found and sworn to be "the flag that great-great-great (etc.) grand-daddy carried in the revolutionary war that a book was written about them. It is "Thirteen Star Flags - Keys to Identification" by Grace Rogers Cooper, former curator of textiles at the Smithsonian. 

 One last note, if the stars are, indeed, hand-stitched, then it is  the latest examples of hand-sewing of stars for Naval flags that I have ever heard of.

Regards,

Nick Artimovich
NAVA President, 1994-1996

A:    Actually, I have not been able to find any web sites that can give you a comprehensive theory of flag design. The best that I can do is quote Capt. James T. Kirk's lawyer in the original STAR TREK episode "Court Martial". When Kirk
enters Samuel T. Corrigan's office, he finds a room littered with piles of books. Mr. Corrigan shows Capt. Kirk his desktop computer. In it, he explains, is the total legal knowledge of the human race from the beginnings of Western civilization on Earth to the laws of the 22nd century. He then tells the captain that he never uses it. "Books, young man, books..." is his real source of knowledge.
    On that note I can tell you that I know of no comprehensive source in print on flag design. The best that I can tell you is to look into the history of human symbolic language. Two very good books can get you started. If your library doesn't have them, then I am sure that you can get them via Inter library Loan.
    The first is "Flags Through the Ages and Across the World" by Whitney Smith, Ph.D. (McGraw-Hill, 1975) and "Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meanings" by Ottfreid Neubecker (McGraw-Hill, 1976)
    Both of these sources are an excellent place to start to understand the concept of what symbols are and what effect they have on people. They are also well illustrated with hundreds of examples of good and bad flag and coat-of-arms designs. My best advice is to start with the basics if you want to learn about the language of graphic symbols.
    As for myself, I would be more than happy to assist you in anyway that I can. I am a skilled draftsman and artist and would be more than happy to lend my expertise in your effort.

Sincerely,
John H. Gamez

(Note: "A Flag for New Milford" by Peter Orenski, and published by the Flag Research Center {The Flag Bulletin #168, Volume 35, No.s 1-2} contains some basic guidelines for flag design...Ed)

A: Hello Col.:

You asked me if there were various specifications for the US flag in 1837.

The short answer to your questions is "no." Let me be more specific:

Were there guidelines? No. US flags had to have 13 stripes, alternating red and white, with a blue canton of unspecified size or proportion with white stars of any sizes (it was actually a rare flag that had all stars the same size and orientation) and they could be arranged in any pattern the maker wished.

Your numbered questions:

1. There were no standard flag sizes. A stars-and-stripes flag only 5 feet long would have been very rare as most flags were used on ships or on public or commercial buildings. Flags ten to twenty feet long were the norm, though unless you lived near a seaport you would not see flags on a daily basis. Flags were not displayed by individuals in their front yard until the late 19th century. For your purposes, I would recommend a minimum size of 4x6 feet, and 5x8 feet if you have a high enough pole.

2. The proportions of the canton were not specified. Only a good aesthetic sense of proportion was needed by the maker. The canton would tend to be rectangular if the maker wanted stars in rows or in an elliptical pattern, and roughly square if the star pattern was to be circular. The canton usually was seven stripes deep, resting on a white stripe, although cantons six or eight stripes deep were not unknown in the early 19th century. The length of the stripes was likewise not specified. Ships flags tended to be made "longer", approximating 1 by 2, as they were subject to excessive wear at sea and were trimmed and rehemmed numerous times until they were nearly square or until the hoist end deteriorated beyond repair.

3. Stars in a strict geometric order with the top point up was the RAREST form. Only flags made for the US Navy would have closely approached that description. Stars were found in ovals, double rings, open boxes, great star pattern, flower patterns, etc. Star points often radiated from the center towards the edge.

4a. Stars were made whatever size the maker wished. Some made smaller stars so they could fit in stars for new states, others made the stars large enough to nearly touch each other, filling the canton. Some had a large central star with smaller ones surrounding it, some had large stars in the corner with smaller ones inside.

4b. Typically the blue canton was one thickness of bunting, with either two sets of stars applied, one to each side, or, especially for larger flags, one set of stars would be sewn on the front and the blue bunting was cut out from the back of the star and the raw blue edge hemmed. And of course there was no standardization as to which side of the flag was the "front."

5. The flags heading varied from zero to a couple of inches. some flags had a rope sewn to the bunting with no heading, some had a canvas heading with the rope sewn in, yet others had hand-worked grommets like button holes.

6. Flags had no fringe unless they were silk military colors. And since the US Army did not use the Stars and Stripes until 1834, it is highly unlikely that any Stars and Stripes flags would have had fringe in 1837. The US Army units carried flags of blue or white fields with the US arms or the regimental designation. By the era of the Mexican War some units did fly the Stars and Stripes.

A flag of 1837 would have most likely had 26 stars. Officially the 26th star would not have been added until July 4, 1837, but in practice newly made flags would have had 26 shortly after Michigan joined the Union in January. Existing 25 star flags may or may not have had the new star added, depending on the whims of the owner. Flags carrying an obsolete number of stars have never stopped being the "Flag of the United States" so you can't assume older flags were not in use. Indeed, you can still see some homes flying 48 star flags today, 'though I must admit that is far rarer today than when I began collecting flags in the 1960's.

The US Postal Service issued a set of stamps last year that show various US flag designs over the last 100 years. You may see these stamps at

http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/content.jsp?D=16485&X=

The fourth flag in the first column is a 26 star "great star" flag which is appropriate to the period of your home.

I also suggest you visit the website of the Lapeer County Library:

http://198.110.10.57/Library/Exhibits/Flags/flags2.html

You can see a photo of an original 26 "great star" pattern flag. The book "The Stars and The Stripes" illustrates the fantastic collection of flags owned by the Mastais. Let me know if you need a copy of that book as it occasionally shows up on the rare book market.

I am taking the liberty of copying some of my fellow NAVA members on this reply in the event that they wish to add insight from their own research into flags.

Regards,

Nick Artimovich
NAVA President 1994-1996

A: Hi Rita:
The flag you describe appears to be the so-called U.S. Yacht Ensign, that is a U.S. flag for use at sea by yachts.  Officially the U.S. has only one flag, unlike many other countries that have flags for land and for sea.  However, in 1848 this flag was established as a signal for licensed U.S. Yachts.  Yacht owners also  wanted a flag to show they were only sailing in U.S. waters and therefore did not have to clear customs on arriving in port.  The custom of flying this "Yacht Ensign", a variant of the former U.S. Navy "Small Boat Flag" was given semi-official recognition when the government announced it would give these yachts the same protection as the U.S. flag or ensign in U.S. waters.

This flag is even popular on inland lakes on boats and sailing craft.  Many buy and use this flag in Minnesota.  You have quite a flag at 20x30 ft.  This seems too big to put on a yacht, so there is the possibility that your flag is actually different. Probably it was made for some special occasion or display.

You can find more information on FOTW, Flags of the World Website, www.fotw.digibel.be/flags/

Information courtesy of Nick Artimovich, Dave Martucci, and John Ayers from the FOTW mailing list.

I hope this helps you.

Lee L. Herold

Q: Where and when was the first Japanese flag displayed in the US after WWII?
 Thank you!!!!!
Lisa
  
A: Dear Lisa,
I honestly don't have any idea. I'd guess it was when we reestablished diplomatic relations with Japan after the government was reorganized. Probably in the very late 40s, but heck if I really know what I'm talking about. I'm copying this message to Harry Oswald who knows more about Japanese vexillology than anyone else in NAVA and maybe he has a clue.

David Martucci

Q: Is there a flag which encompasses all the Eastern Shore, MD, counties?  If so, do  you have a picture of it?
Thank you in advance for your time.
Tricia

A: Hi Tricia:
I no not know. I am not familiar with this area of the country, thus not acquainted with any such flag. The Hampton Roads area of Virginia has such a regional flag, however. Regional flags are not too common.  I've sent your question to the NAVA site for further examination, in case others may know. Of last resort is Dr. Whitney Smith of the Flag Research Center, who would definitely have an answer for you.

Lee L. Herold

(Please see the next page for the original question and the answers - click HERE.....Ed.)

Here is a copy of the URL of the code to which I refer:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/ch10.html

As a member of the United States Armed Forces (Air Force) I am quite interested in such matters such as the display of the POW/MIA flag as a sign of respect for those whom it represents concern for. If you could please make this information be known for future reference I would be most gracious. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Matthew 
(Note: the writer is an Airman First Class at the Little Rock AFB, Arkansas...Ed)

THE FOLLOWING IS A REPLY FROM CHARLES A. SPAIN Jr., FORMER NAVA PRESIDENT, AND STATE'S ATTORNEY FROM TEXAS

The U.S. law governing the display of the POW/MIA flag applies only to the federal government. The law does not apply to the states or to private individuals. Furthermore, the federal law does not specifically describe the placement of the POW/MIA flag. Instead, the law states that "[d]isplay of the POW/MIA flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public."

The current text is located at title 36, United States Code, section 902 (the Cornell website information is outdated):

Sec. 902. National League of Families POW/MIA flag

(a) Designation.--The National League of Families POW/MIA flag is designated 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.

(b) Required Display.--The POW/MIA flag shall be displayed at the locations specified in subsection (d) of this section on POW/MIA flag display days. The display serves--
(1) as the symbol of the Nation's concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in action, still remain unaccounted for; and
(2) as the symbol of the Nation's commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting for Americans who in the future may become prisoners of war, missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted for as a result of hostile action.

(c) Days for Flag Display.--(1) For purposes of this section, POW/MIA flag display days are the following:
(A) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May.
(B) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.
(C) Flag Day, June 14.
(D) Independence Day, July 4.
(E) National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
(F) Veterans Day, November 11.
(2) In addition to the days specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, POW/MIA flag display days include--
(A) in the case of display at medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (required by subsection (d)(7) of this section), any day on which the flag of the United States is displayed; and
(B) in the case of display at United States Postal Service post offices (required by subsection (d)(8) of this section), the last business day before a day specified in paragraph (1) that in any year is not itself a business day.

(d) Locations for Flag Display.--The locations for the display of the POW/MIA flag under subsection (b) of this section are the following:
(1) The Capitol.
(2) The White House.
(3) The Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial.
(4) Each national cemetery.
(5) The buildings containing the official office of--
(A) the Secretary of State;
(B) the Secretary of Defense;
(C) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
(D) the Director of the Selective Service System.
(6) Each major military installation, as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
(7) Each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(8) Each United States Postal Service post office.

(e) Coordination With Other Display Requirement.--Display of the POW/MIA flag at the Capitol pursuant to subsection (d)(1) of this section is in addition to the display of that flag in the Rotunda of the Capitol pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 of the 101st Congress, agreed to on February 22, 1989 (103 Stat. 2533).

(f) Display To Be in a Manner Visible to the Public.--Display of the POW/MIA flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.

(g) Limitation.--This section may not be construed or applied so as to require any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the POW/MIA flag.

Charles Spain

(...and)

I do seem to stand corrected the flag adopted as the emblem of the National League of Families of POWs and MIAs in 1985.

The flag was officially recognized as a national patriotic symbol in 1990 by Public Law 101-355 (36 USC 189),
Other than that I stand by my original response:

James Ferrigan

(...and)

Having reviewed the section of the US Code indicated, I believe the information previously given is correct. The POW/MIA flag is recognized as a fitting symbol for display, especially on certain days, but there is nothing in the US Code that elevates its position of precedence. So the basic advice NAVA members gave is correct, the US Flag takes the honor position, then any other foreign flags, then any state flags, then territorial flags, then municipal or county flags, then any military rank or distinguishing flags of government officials, and then the POW/MIA flag.

David Martucci

A: Dear Jason:
The US Customs flag and the US Coast Guard Ensign both have vertical stripes.  I don't have information on the dates, since the 15 star flag was our nations second flag in 1820.  Neither flag has the row of stars, they have an eagle in the form of the US Seal.  I have forwarded this to NAVA in case anyone has more information.

I hope this has helped you a little.

Lee L. Herold

(An additional discussion of vertical stripped US flags may be found on page three of Questions and Answers...Ed)

A: Bob:
Peter and our webmaster have forwarded your query to me. In the US, there is no restriction on flying any flag you want. Flags are protected free speech here. I fly various flags on my single pole here and have come to be well known for it.
The only rule of thumb, as you have stated, is never fly more than one national flag from a pole at a time. Be sure to take some photos of the more exotic flags you flay and send them to me for NAVA News!

David Martucci

(...and)

A: With respect to the "question" of how to get your questions published on this page, please see the new 7 step process delineated at the top of the main Q&A page.  There are now 38 people, listed on the RESEARCH page, willing and anxious to take questions from NAVA members and visitors to this site alike.  Please feel free to contact them with your queries.

Richard R. Gideon

A:  Dear Kathy:
     This issue of the Texas flag representing that state as a republic has come up for discussion at divers times, with some interesting opinions ensuing (please see the "Eagle Mountain" question below..Ed).  Texas lawyer and former NAVA president Charles Spain Jr. had this comment on the subject: "A further point is that Texas is not the only state that the United States government recognized as an independent nation before being admitted to the Union.  Hawaii was independent before the U.S. basically stole it.  The other state (which no one ever gets) is Vermont.  Before its admission, Vermont was recognized by the U.S. government as the independent Republic of New Connecticut."

Insofar as any of the original 13 colonies may be said to have in place today the flag it used in pre-constitutional times, one could make the argument that those entities were independent nations as well.  Remember, we're supposed to be the United STATES (or as the French would say, "Étates Unis" or States United). Prior to the Civil War it was common to use the plural when speaking of the United States, as in, "The United States are represented at the meeting."  Today we would say, "The United States is represented at the meeting."  As author Shelby Foote said, "The Civil War made us an 'is.'" 

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Richard R. Gideon

(and...)

Hawaii was an independent Kingdom and then an independent republic before the United States annexed the islands in the latter part of the 19th century (I think it was 1898 or so, but I'd have to check on the exact date). From 1816 to 1845 (with exception of the brief British occupation in 1843) their flag was similar to the present State Flag. The same State Flag that flies today was adopted as the National Flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii on May 20, 1845 and has since been the flag of those islands as a republic, territory and state. 

Vermont, then known as New Connecticut, declared its independence from Britain (and also from New York and New Hampshire who were feuding over who owned "the grants" as it was commonly known) January 15, 1777.  Since NY and NH could not agree on anything, the Continental Congress did not admit it's representatives, thereby confirming it's status as an independent nation, although indirectly.  The name was changed to Vermont on June 4, 1777.  It was admitted as the 14th state on March 4, 1791.  Although there are a few tantalizing references to a flag, no description or exact reference is known to exist.

A small area around Sonoma, California proclaimed itself the independent Republic of California on June 14, 1846 and the Bear Flag flew there as a republic until July 9, 1846 when the US annexed the territory.  The present State flag is a stylized version of one of the original Bear Flags.  In addition, several southern states proclaimed themselves independent in
1860-61 and decided on a National Flag before the formation of, or their admission to, the Confederacy: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.  South Carolina and Virginia still fly the same flags today.  Georgia had an unofficial flag which is incorporated into the present flag and North Carolina's "independent" flag was the basis for their present flag.  In Louisiana, an unofficial flag later became the present state flag and the previous Republic of Texas flag was taken up by Confederate Texans and later became the State flag.

Dave Martucci

(and...)

At least as a matter of U.S. constitutional law (and not necessarily good history or political science), sovereignty transferred directly on July 4, 1776 from the British crown to the United States collectively, and not to each of the 13 individual states. The Supreme Court's opinion setting this out is United States v. Curtis-Wright Export Corporation, 299 U.S. 304, 316-17 (1936):
"As a result of the separation from Great Britain by the colonies, acting as a unit, the powers of external sovereignty passed from the Crown not to the colonies severally, but to the colonies in their collective and corporate capacity as the United States of America. Even before the Declaration, the colonies were a unit in foreign affairs, acting through a common agency--namely, the Continental Congress, composed of delegates from the thirteen colonies. That agency exercised the powers of war and peace, raised an army, created a navy, and finally adopted the Declaration of Independence. Rulers come and go; governments end and forms of government change; but sovereignty survives. A political society cannot endure without a supreme will somewhere. Sovereignty is never held in suspense. When, therefore, the external sovereignty of Great Britain in respect of the colonies ceased, it immediately passed to the Union."
 
Returning to the original question about the law regarding the disposal of the Texas flag, I personally think the law is unnecessary and long on the silly side. It was written by a Cub Scout Pack ... and as luck would have it, the Cubmaster is a state senator. The original draft said that Texas has the only state flag that previously was a national flag. I got that fixed...
 
Charles A. Spain (Mr. Spain is a former NAVA president, and a state's attorney in Texas)