Veterans Day

Posted on November 4, 2011 by admin

Veteran’s Day is a national holiday in the United States, dedicated to honoring the over twenty four million military veterans of the United States. November 11th is commemorated with parades, special lessons in classrooms and memorial services. Flags such as those of Remembrance, Honor, those representing military branches and the United States flag are appropriate for this occasion.

Regardless of how you choose to pay tribute to those individuals who have kept our country proud and free, please take a moment to stop and remember those who sacrificed for us all.

 

Photo taken from the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day Poster Gallery

Posted in Flag Etiquette, Flying the United States Flag, Holiday, Patrotic, Veterans Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The New South Sudan

Posted on November 3, 2011 by admin

The Republic of South Sudan became fully independent from Sudan in July of 2011 and the country officially adopted the above flag which was previously used by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Shortly after South Sudan succeeded from Sudan the United Nations accepted the flag of South Sudan and recognized it as the official flag of the newly formed country.

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Libya’s Flag Change

Posted on November 2, 2011 by admin

 

The flag of Libya has been changed back to the pre-Gaddafi flag of red, black and green with the white crescent and star in the center. With the fall of Muammar Gaddafi the National Transitional Council officially reverted back to the flag of the Kingdom of Libya originally flown from the years 1951–1969. This flag should now replace the solid green flag of the Gaddafi years, as Libya enters a new era as a country.

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The 10th Anniversary of September 11th: Flying Your Flag on Patriot Day

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin


 

September 11th, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. As this day approaches it is important to understand proper flag etiquette that pertains to the upcoming day of remembrance.

Patriot Day, observed on September 11th every year, was officially signed into law on December 18, 2001 as a day to remember and honor those who died in the attacks on our country. As a national holiday, the President is requested to issue a proclamation each year to local and state governments and the citizens of the United States to observe Patriot Day with the appropriate activities.

Additionally all the departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the United States and interested organizations and individuals to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and the people of the United States are also to observe a moment of silence on Patriot Day in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Please remember to lower your flag to half mast this, and every, September 11th in honor and remembrance of those fellow American’s who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Photo credit and information regarding Patriot’s Day taken from Annin Flags, Roseland, Nj

Posted in Flag Changes, Flag Etiquette, Flag History, Flying the United States Flag, Holiday, Patrotic, September 11th | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

September 11th

Posted on August 2, 2011 by admin

Regardless of your theory on what happened on September 11th, 2001, everyone can agree that that particular Tuesday irrevocably changed America. As the ten year anniversary of that fateful day approaches there will be many memorial services, remembrance events and reflections on the lives that were lost at the World Trade Center, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. As these commemorative events take place across the nation, there will be one symbol of strength, unity and national pride that will be present at every ceremony – the flag of the United States of America.

While the United States’s flag has long stood for independence, in the years since September 11th it has come to mean much more. Many will fly their flags with pride on just one day out of the year as a symbol of respect for those who died. However in addition to the United States flag, remembrance and memorial flags for the citizens, who perished, and the fire fighters, police officers and EMT’s who perished are also available for display.

And while flying a flag will not change the past, or bring back the innocent victims of the attacks, it does stand as a sign that we remember their passing with honor, with hope and with courage. Unity and strength have gotten this country through the last ten years, and while the United States flag still flies proudly over this land unity and strength will continue to support our nation through the next ten years.



Flag of Honor containing the names of all 2996 victims of the September 11th, 2001 attacks. Photo credit Rhonda Churchill.

American Flag photo at the beginning credit to The Moral Liberal.

Posted in Flag History, Flying the United States Flag, Holiday, Patrotic, September 11th | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flag Collecting in 2011

Posted on July 20, 2011 by admin

Flags first began as a tool for military procedures, and for visual direction for armies during battle. Since then flags have evolved to be used for a variety of different things from pure decoration to national pride. However the tradition of collecting flags is a fairly recent development in the history of flags that continues to pick up speed.

Recent events in United States history, September 11th, the war in the Middle East, have kept national pride and patriotism at an all time high. Consequently flag collecting, and an interest in old flags, has seen an increased following throughout the United States. This hobby has become a year round event for collectors, and as the interest in old flags has risen, so have the prices.

One recent flag sale, the flag of the Second Continental Light Dragoons of Connecticut, was sold for $12.34 million. This flag was the first to feature the 13 red and white stripes, and still holds the record for  most expensive Revolutionary flag sold.

But why such an interest in flag collecting? And specifically the American Flag? Many collectors agree that the embodiment of the American Spirit, the thrill of owning a piece of history, and the reverence that come with these flags is what keeps them collecting.

Interested in starting your own collection or learning more? Check out these links to some antique flag sellers to see what the excitement is all about!

Antique Flags

Historic American Flags

 

Image credit goes to jeffbridgman.com

Antique flag information goes to Karla Klein Albertson, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Posted in Flag Collecting, Flag History, The Fourth Of July, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Fourth of July and the History of the United States Flag

Posted on June 28, 2011 by admin

The Fourth of July is quickly approaching and in light of this important flag flying holiday it is important to look back on the history of our nations flag and its significance.

The Stars and Stripes first originated with the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia on June 14, 1777, when they decided that the “flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.”

However their decision did not dictate how many points the stars should have or how the stars should be arranged on the blue union. This meant that some flags had stars scattered on the blue field without any design, some arranged the stars in rows, and some in a circle. The first Navy national flag had the stars arranged in staggered formation in alternate rows of threes and twos on a blue field. Other flags had stars arranged in alternate rows of four, five and four. And while no one is completely sure of who originated the final design for the stars on the flag, evidence indicates that Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey was responsible for the stars in the U.S. flag. Hopkinson also helped design other devices for the Government including the Great Seal of the United States.

Betsy Ross famously sewed the first official government version of the United States flag, its appearance has altered over the years due to the addition of more states. Currently the flag has 13 horizontal stripes — 7 red and 6 white — with the red and white stripes alternating and a union which consists of white stars of 5 points on a blue field placed in the upper quarter next to the staff and extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The proportions of the flag were enacted by an Executive Order of President Eisenhower on August 21, 1959, and are as follows:

Hoist (width) of flag………………1.0
Fly (length) of flag…………………1.9
Hoist (width) of union……………0.5385
Fly (length) of union………………0.76
Width of each stripe……………..0.0769
Diameter of each star…………..0.0616

When flying the United States flag it is important to always remember the proper etiquette — especially on a holiday! So while you celebrate the holiday with your friends and family, keep in mind the history of our flag and our country.

Information taken from: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/ourflag/titlepage.htm

Posted in Flag Etiquette, Flag History, Flying the United States Flag, The Fourth Of July | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Days to Fly the United States Flag in 2011

Posted on June 20, 2011 by admin

The United States of America is unique in the fact that government institutions fly the national flag every day, and that the public can display the flag whenever they choose. However, there are several days throughout the year when the United States flag should be flown, and those days are as follows:

New Year’s Day                                                                              January 1st

Martin Luther King Day                                           (observed) January 17th

Lincoln’s Birthday                                                                          February 12th

President’s Day (third Monday in February)        (observed) February 21st

Easter Sunday (variable)                                                              April 21st

Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May)                                      May 8th

Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May)                             May 21st

Memorial Day (half staff till noon)                          (observed) May 30th

Flag Day                                                                                          June 13th

Father’s Day (third Sunday in June)                                          June 19th

Independence Day                                                                        July 4th

Labor Day (first Monday in September)                                   September 5th

Patriot Day (half staff)                                                                 September 11th

Constitution Day                                                                           September 17th

Columbus Day (second Monday in October)        (observed) October 10th

Navy Day                                                                                       October 27th

Veterans Day                                                                                November 11th

Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)               November 24th

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day                                              December 7th

Christmas Day                                                                              December 25th

Please remember to observe these special flag flying days with your own United States Flag!

List taken from Annin Flagmakers Catalog.

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Utah Flag Change

Posted on March 16, 2011 by admin
  On February 17th, 2011 Utah House Concurrent Resolution 2 passed both the State House and Senate unanimously and has been signed by Governor Gary Herbert. As allowed by this resolution, we will be shipping our current design until our stock is depleted and printing the updated design thereafter. The resolution appears below with all of the details surrounding the history and changes of the current design.
 

This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor  recognizes that current state law accurately reflects the 1913 design of the official state flag and urges that all newly manufactured, official flags of the state of Utah accurately reflect the statutory description of the state flag.

This resolution recognizes that Utah Code Section 63G-1-501 accurately reflects the 1913 description of the official state flag of Utah; and urges manufacturers of state flags to modify the current design of the official flag of the state of Utah to accurately reflect the description of the flag as approved by the Utah Legislature in 1913.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:

Whereas, the first Utah state flag was created in 1903 at the request of Governor Heber M. Wells; whereas, the Governor’s request came by way of invitation from the President of the St. Louis World’s Fair to have a delegation from Utah travel to St, Louis and dedicate the site of the Utah Exhibit and have the state flag flown in a parade of the 45 states at the World’s Fair; whereas, the Utah State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution responded to the Governor’s request to sponsor the manufacture of the flag; whereas, the flag was presented to the Governor by the Society on March 31, 1903; whereas, alterations were made to the flag so that its appearance more closely reflected the official state seal from which the design was taken; whereas, the society enlisted Utah artist H.L.A. Culmer to help seamstress and flag maker Agnes Teudt Fernelius in finalizing the design of the flag; whereas, on May 1, 1903, the Utah delegation to the St. Louis World’s Fair marched proudly alongside the state’s new flag in the Parade of States; whereas, the flag was formally referred to as the Governor’s flag or the Governor’s regimental flag until 1911, when the Legislature formally adopted its design as the official state flag; whereas, a second flag was finished in early 1913 and presented by the state to the battleship U.S.S. Utah on June 25, 1913; whereas, that same year, Representative Annie Cannon successfully introduced House Joint Resolution 1, which established the current flag design reflected in statute; whereas, Utah Code Section 63G-1-501 describes the flag as, “a flag of blue field, fringed, with gold borders, with the following device worked in natural colors on the center of the blue field: The center a shield; above the shield and thereon an American eagle with outstretched wings; the top of the shield pierced with six arrows arranged crosswise; upon the shield under the arrows the word “Industry,” and below the word “Industry” on the center of the shield, a beehive; on each side of the beehive, growing sego lilies, below the beehive and near the bottom of the shield, the word “Utah,” and below the word “Utah” and on the bottom of the shield, the figures “1847″; with the appearance of being back of the shield there shall be two American flags on flagstaffs placed crosswise with the flag so draped that they will project beyond each side of the shield, the heads of the flagstaffs appearing in front of the eagle’s wings and the bottom of each staff appearing over the face of the draped flag below the shield; below the shield and flags and upon the blue field, the figures “1896″; around the entire design, a narrow circle in gold; whereas, a third state flag was prepared in 1922 which mistakenly has the year 1847 beneath the shield instead of on the shield, and the error has been perpetuated to this day; whereas, in the interest of accurately preserving a symbol of the state’s rich history, and to follow the wording of Utah Code Section 63G-1-501, all new flags should be made to reflect the statutory flag description and all Utah flags currently in use or in stock should be utilized until unserviceable.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein, recognize that Utah Code Section 63G-1-501 accurately reflects the 1913 description of the official state flag of Utah.

Be it further resolved that the Legislature and the Governor urge manufacturers of the state flag to modify the current design of the official flag of the state of Utah to accurately reflect the description of the flag as approved by the Utah Legislature in 1913.

Be it further resolved that the Legislature and the Governor urge that all Utah flags be prepared in honor of past generations and for the benefit of present and future generations. 

Information provided by Eder Flag Manufacturing Company.
Posted in Flag Changes | 1 Comment

About Flags Intro

Posted on February 17, 2011 by admin

Thank you for thinking ABOUT FLAGS! Welcome to our new blog site.

Spring is in the air and perhaps it is time to brighten up your business with a new wave of color.

ABOUT FLAGS, INC! can assist you with corporate flags, tradeshow banners and table-covers. We can customize message banners or feather type flags to let your customers know what is new and exciting with your company. Street banners and light post displays can dress up your parking lots.  We have been in the industry for thirty years and can offer expertise on a wide range of projects. We also do custom Logo Door Mats. We appreciate the chance to quote your needs.

Our wide selection of United States flags offer a broad range of sizes and qualities from which to choose including indoor U.S. flag sets.  Price lists are available for international, religious, historic, nautical, armed forces, advertising flags and banners, (Open, Grand Opening, Now Hiring, Pennant Strings, etc.) bunting, school flags, sport teams, commercial and residential flagpoles.  We added new stock feather, blade and teardrop designs that can ship in about a week.

Let’s discuss what we can do for you!  Our toll free phone number is 1-800-621- FLAG (3524). Thank you for thinking ABOUT FLAGS!

Best regards,

Marilyn

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