Carrot Top

Grace Seibold lost her son in WWI and organized a group of mothers who were going through the same grief which was named the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. This name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Families hung a blue star on the Service Flag for those that were living and a gold star in honor of the deceased veteran. On May 28, 1918, President Wilson approved that American women should wear a black band on the left arm and a yellow star on the band for each member of the family who had died while serving in the military.

Congress approved on June 23, 1936 that the last Sunday in September be designated as Gold Star Mother’s Day due to the “American Gold Star Mothers suffering supreme sacrifice in the loss of their sons and daughters in World Wars” as it is said in the Public Resolution 123.

You can see the activities that are taking place in Washington, DC here.

Membership today is open to any American woman whose son or daughter has died in the line of duty while in the US Armed Forces. Stepmothers and adoptive mothers are eligible for membership too. Husbands and childrenla of American Gold Star Mothers can become Associate Members who do not vote or pay dues.

The Gold Star Mothers provide emotional support for each other and they have a huge sense of patriotism. They have always been involved in a lot of volunteer work and continue to do so.

PGA of America and the United States Golf Association are joining together for the first Patriot Golf Day on Saturday, September 1st. Public facilities will request an extra $1 for each green fee and private facilities will ask for donations. The money collected will go to Wounded Warriors, Inc. This is to support families of wounded, injured and fallen soldiers.

Dan Rooney, a PGA member, is leading the creation of the Patriot Golf Day in which at least 2500 golf courses have registered to take part in. Mr. Rooney has flown 2 tours of duty in Iraq.

Go golf this Saturday and honor our troops and their families who serve our country. Click here to see which courses close to you are participating.

What is the most popular color on flags?
Red is the most popular color being found on approximately 75 per cent of all national flags of the world. White is present on about 70 per cent of the flags and blue is common on approximately 50 per cent of the flags.

Why are flags hoisted on the left hand side?
It is common to read from left to right, but in some Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, where reading is done from right to left, the hoist is on the right side of the flag.

Where is the biggest flag in the world and how big is it?
The largest flag ever flown was a flag of the USA which measured 255 ft. by 505 ft. (78m by 154m). It was hoisted vertically on cables across Hoover Dam to celebrate the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay. According to Dr. William Crampton, the largest flag that constantly flies is the flag of Brazil, in Brasilia; the country’s capital. This flag is 230 ft. by 328 ft. (70m by 100m).

Why do some national flags have a coat of arms on some versions of the flag but not on other versions?
Many countries with flags that display a coat of arms use that version as a state flag and they remove the coat of arms to make their civil flag, to be used by the country’s citizens. Examples of this include Spain and Ecuador.

Why are the proportions of flags so different throughout the world?
There isn’t a correct or universal proportion for any flag as each one is unique. There are a few trends in flag proportions based on some influential flags. Flags based on the French flag copy its proportions of 2:3, German flags are 3:5, U.S. flags are 10:19, and Russian, Commonwealth of Nations, and communist flags use 1:2.

Why do some country’s flags look the same as others?
Some flags look the same out of pure coincidence and other flags are similar because of the nation’s geographical location or religious beliefs. Many colonial flags, such as British Commonwealth countries are also similar to each other. Eg. Many flags of Islamic nations will use the color green to signify their religious beliefs while many British Commonwealth countries may have the British Union Jack incorporated into their national flag.

When was the first flag made?
Ancient flags were made out of materials such as wood, metal and stone. The oldest preserved textile flag is a crude Roman cloth that was found in Egypt and historians figure it dates back to the third century AD.

The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 BC, when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags - some were even made out of wood or metal. Flags were originally used for the purpose of identification or to signal to others. Although flags are still used for many of those reasons today, flags have also come to be used for much more.

Flags have also been important symbols on land as well as on sea. Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to harbors, often to let them know they had an infectious or diseased crew aboard. Flags are still used today to let sailors know what weather conditions await at sea. The military also made use of flags to rally its troops. In military times, capturing an enemy’s flag was considered an honorable seizure.

Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world’s countries, the use of national flags didn’t become commonplace until the 18th century. National flags are now used to identify each country and their symbolism.

When Mount Everest and the moon were conquered, and when new found lands were discovered, explorers would raise flags as signs of their being the first to tread these unchartered lands. Flags have also been used historically, many with negative consequences. For example, ancient pirates used flags decorated with the feared skull and crossbones emblem, and the Nazis used a flag decorated with a swastika.

Today, flags are still used to signify crucial events. For example, if you are offside in a soccer game, the linesman raises his flag, or when an auto race begins a flag is traditionally waved to start the race.

In fact, the numerous uses for flags and their examination have become so popular that the practice of ‘vexillology’, which means the academic study of flags, has been developed.

The use of military flags goes back hundreds of years, but it was probably in the Middle Ages that it became popular for warriors to carry flags with them into battle. When soldiers were all dressed up in their suits of armor it was difficult to tell who was who, so the introduction of military flags in battle was basically to let you know who your friends and enemies were.

As time progressed most of the world’s armies, navies, and air forces etc. had their own individual flags designed for them. There are flags that represent each branch of the military, the navy or army etc. as a whole. Then there are flags that represent different brigades, divisions, squadrons, regiments, battalions and officers etc. within each of those branches. There are literally dozens of military flags including ones for the military police, army bands, the military chapel, the chief of engineers and the surgeon general etc.

The US has flags for the army, marine corps, navy, air force, and the coast guard; with the army, navy and marine flags being first created in 1775. These flags have been flown and used in every battle the US has fought, even during the country’s own civil war.

Another US military flag that is quite popular is the POW/MIA flag which symbolizes American prisoners of war and all those who have gone missing in action. The flag was created in 1971, by a former World War II pilot, and although it grew from the Vietnam War it has come to represent all of those missing in action, back to World War II; a group of almost 90,000 people.

The US also has a military flag which represents all of its armed forces. There is also a Service Star flag which is flown by the families of people serving in the forces during times of war.

Badge: A coat of arms.

Base or Field: The background or main color of the flag.

Banner: A flag-like cloth draped, or stretched, between two anchor points

Bicolor: A flag that has two colors, usually of equal size.

Bordering: A different-colored edge around the outside of the flag, or part of a flag.

Civil flag: The version of the country’s national flag, for use by private citizens.

Defacing: Changing a flag by adding something to it, especially concerning colonial flags. Note: that the term ‘defacing’ doesn’t mean ‘vandalizing’ when used in reference to flags.

Differencing: Referring to the design of one flag as a variation of another flag - either by changing a color, or adding or removing a charge, etc. For example, the flag of Italy was ‘differenced’ from that of France by changing the blue stripe to green.

Ensign: A flag used by ships at sea.

Field: A background or predominant color.

Finial: The ornament on the end of a flagstaff or flagpole.

Fly: The edge or end of a flag furthest away from the pole.

Halyard: A rope used to raise a flag.

Honor point: The place on a flag where the color, or charge, with the greatest, or highest, symbolism is placed - almost always the upper left hand side.

Mast or pole: A device used to fly a flag.

Pennant: (or pennon), any triangular or roughly triangular flag.

Proportion: (or ratio), the relationship of a flag’s width to its length, for example the Russian flag has a proportion of 1:2.

Saint Andrew’s cross: A cross stretching from corner to corner of a flag, forming an ‘X’, also called a ’saltire’.

Saint George’s Cross: A cross with arms vertical and horizontal, forming a ‘+’, stretching out to the edges of the flag.

Scandinavian cross: A Saint George’s Cross placed off-centered, towards the hoist. Seen on Scandinavian and Nordic flags.

Swallowtail: A flag that comes to two or three points at the fly end.

Vexillogram: A picture or design specification for a flag.

Vexillographer: A person who designs flags.

Vexillology: The academic study of flags.

Vexillophile: A flag collector or flag enthusiast.

Wearing: A synonym for ‘flying’, when applied to the ensign of a ship at sea.

The US Air Force flag consists of an ultramarine blue, which is the air force’s branch color. The flag is 4 feet 4 inches wide by 5 feet 6 inches in length. The indoor version of the flag has a 2 ½ inch yellow/gold border around the outer edge. The coat of arms of the Department of the Air Force is in the center of the flag.

The flag is always carried with streamers commemorating the air force’s battles and campaigns, starting with the Mexican Expedition in 1916-1917. The air force was a part of the army until 1947 and its battle streamers from that period are also flown with the US Army flag.

The US Navy flag consists of a dark blue base with the Navy seal in the center. The words United States Navy are written in dark blue on a yellow scroll below the seal. The flag measures 4 feet 4 inches wide by 5 feet 6 inches in length. The Navy’s official colors are blue and gold and the indoor version of the flag has a gold border around the outer edge.

The US Navy flag doesn’t fly from ships as the national flag and other signal flags are flown instead. The flag is basically used as a ceremonial symbol and is only carried by honor guards in parades and other ceremonies.

The US Navy still uses the international nautical flags, even in this technological age of radio and satellites.

The flag is always displayed with a set of streamers commemorating the battles, campaigns and service of the US Navy, since 1775. There are currently 28 authorized streamers, plus three to recognize awards of the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.

“Taps” is an American call, composed by the Union Army’s Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield while in camp at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, in 1862. Butterfield wrote the call to replace the earlier “Tattoo” (lights out), which he thought too formal. The call soon became known as “Taps” because it was often tapped out on a drum in the absence of a bugler. Before the year was out, sounding Taps became the practice in both Northern and Southern camps. The call was officially adopted by the U.S. Army in 1874.

Here are the words to “Taps”

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh — Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear — Friend, good night.

“TAPS” went on from its origin as an alternative to “Lights Out” to become not only a signal that day was done, but also to say good-bye to a fallen comrade.

“TAPS” is customarily played at funerals at Arlington national Cemetery as well as at ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns there.

The US Marine Corp flag consists of a red base with an emblem of the world showing North and South America, in gold, in the center. The world is placed on the top of a gold anchor, with the top and bottom of the anchor being visible. Sitting on top of the globe is a gold eagle. Below the world the words United States Marine Corps are written in scarlet on a white or grey scroll, which is outlined in gold.

The Marine emblem of the eagle, globe and anchor represents distant service under the American eagle by air, land and sea, representing America’s interests “in every clime and place.” The symbol was adopted in 1868.

As with most US military flags the Marine Corps flag comes in two versions; one for indoor/parade use and one for outdoor use. The flags are similar, but the indoor flag has a gold border around its edges.

The Marine Corps is a part of the Department of the Navy, therefore it isn’t a part of the US Navy, however they work closely together. The Marine Corps, like other US military divisions, often places streamers on its flags representing the battle history of the Corps.