Flag - miscellaneous (fringe,
Vexillology)
Displaying more than one American Flag (historical)
Largest American Flag
Tallest American Flagpole
Old Glory
Do not let the Flag of the United States touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, floor, water or merchandise.
The U.S. Flag should never be used as drapery, never festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds. Its should always be allowed to fall free. Bunting should be used for decoration. Do not secure it to a frame. Do not carry the flag in a parade by the edges (flat) or attached to a pole along the top.
When the Flag is so badly torn, soiled or faded that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display the Flag should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. A torn Flag may be mended, or if soiled it may be washed or dry cleaned.
The fringe on the flag is purely a decorative addition. It holds no symbolism.
Vexillology is the scientific study of flags and related emblems. It is concerned with research into flags of all kinds, both modern and historical, the creation of a body of practice for flag design and usage, and of a body of theory of flag development. Vexillology seeks to understand and explain the important part played by flags in the modern world.
A Vexiologist is a person who studies the flag.
Vexillology as a word is derived from the Latin vexillum, a term used by the Romans to refer to a kind of standard with a fabric hung from a horizontal crossbar on a pole. It is the nearest equivalent in the classical languages to what we call a flag today.
Suppose you want to display several U.S. flags (historic or current) at once? The 1988 Boy Scouts of America book Your Flag -- everything you want to know about the flag of the United States of America says on p 21 "Historic U.S. flags are due the same honor and respect that are given today's colors. When a historic flag is carried or displayed with a present-day flag, the modern flag takes precedence." The following are recommendations of the SAR flag committee:
The current (50-star) flag is accorded the position of highest respect. Other U.S. flags follow in the order of decreasing number of stars (or date of design), so that, the 15-star flag would take precedence over the 13-star flag.
Modern reproductions of historic flags take the same precedence as an original historic flag would have.
While the Continental Colors and other flags used before the 1777 resolution defining an official flag were not endorsed by legislation, they were honored through use by Continental troops in battle and should therefore be acccorded national rank below the 13-star flags (and in order of date of use).
Flags of other nations follow U.S. national flags (but precede state flags) in precedence when flown on U.S. territory. For SAR events the precedence of national flags is based on the date their SAR society was formed, otherwise alphabetic.
For SAR events the precedence of state flags is based on the date of their ratification of the Constitution or entry into the Union. State flags of the Revolutionary War era (for example, militia flags) would be accorded similar honor within the state ranking.
America's Tallest
Flagpole
, is located three miles south of the California -- Oregon border in sunny Dorris, California.
It is approx. 200 feet tall, weighs 35,000 pounds and is 36" in diameter at the base and 5.6" at the top. This pole is designed to be a free-standing pole. Free-standing means that pole is not connected to
guy wires or any tower-type structure but, instead, is buried in sand which is encased in a concrete anchor (much like a flower pot holds a plant).
The Flag will be lighted for night viewing by way of three high-intensity, pencil beam lights, and features an internal halyard and electric winch to assist in the raising and lowering of the flag. The Flag, is 30’ X 60’ Duralite nylon and exerts a force of 1,080 pounds at designed winds of 100 to 130 mph.
America's Largest Flag , is 255 feet by 505 feet and requires hundreds of people to unfurl the flag and keep it off the ground. (Follow the link to learn more)
Old Glory - This famous name was coined by 'Captain William Driver' a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT - and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the BOUNTY - some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!"
He retired to Nashville in 1837, taking his treasured flag from his sea days with him. By the time the Civil War erupted, most everyone in and around Nashville recognized Captain Driver's "Old Glory." When
Tennessee seceded from the Union, Rebels were determined to destroy his flag, but repeated searches revealed no trace of the hated banner.
Then on February 25th, 1862, Union forces captured Nashville and raised the American flag over the capital. It was a rather small ensign and immediately folks began asking Captain Driver if "Old Glory" still existed. Happy to have soldiers with him this time, Captain Driver went home and began ripping at the seams of his bedcover. As the stitches holding the quilt-top to the batting unraveled, the onlookers peered inside and saw the 24-starred original "Old Glory"!
Captain Driver gently gathered up the flag and returned with the soldiers to the capitol. Though he was sixty years old, the Captain climbed up to the tower to replace the smaller banner with his beloved flag. The Sixth Ohio Regiment cheered and saluted - and later adopted the nickname "Old Glory" as their own, telling and re-telling the story of Captain Driver's devotion to the flag we honor yet today.
Captain Driver's grave is located in the old Nashville City Cemetery, and is one of three (3) places authorized by act of Congress where the Flag of the United States may be flown 24 hours a day.
Where "Old Glory" resides today? Old Glory is in the Smithsonian Institute.
It is in a special case that is protected from certain light. Among the
light it is protected from is that from cameras.
