Portland Flag Association 1 ISSN 2474-1787

Portland Flag Association “Free, and Worth Every Penny!” Issue 77 August 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ICV 28 Report

ICV 28 Report 1 By Max Liberman 2 July 2019 Flutterings San Antonio, Texas, hosted the 28th PFA Inspires ICV 28 Paper 5 International Congress of Vexillolo- Unofficial Bohemian Flags 6 gy in July, welcoming around 90 Roundup 7 vexillologists from over 20 countries, Variant Flags of Puerto Rico 8 Flag Display in Baker City, Oregon 9 including Ted Kaye and me from The PFA flag stands among those of Flags and the B-17 10 the PFA. I had the privilege of fellow FIAV members. The Flag Quiz 11 representing the PFA at the General Portland Flag Miscellany 12 Assembly of FIAV (the International re-elected Graham Bartram as Next Meeting 12 Federation of Vexillological Associa- secretary-general for congresses. tions), alongside delegates from 45 www.portlandflag.org other flag-studies organizations. FIAV also considered the bid to hold ICV 30 (2023) in Beijing. This At the General Assembly, FIAV spurred a debate about academic admitted new member organizations freedom, as the prospective hosts

from Chile, China, and Macedonia, indicated that some topics would elected Željko Heimer as president be politically unacceptable. The bid (succeeding Michel Lupant) and was eventually approved by a vote of Bruce Berry as secretary-general 38–11. The Flag Research Center (succeeding Kin Spain) and also will co-sponsor ICV 30 and publish the proceedings outside of China.

Congress attendees were treated to presentations on vexillological topics at the luxurious St. Anthony Hotel. We toured the Dixie Flag Company, the Texas state capitol, and Whitney Smith’s vexillological collection at the University of Texas. We ended the week with a closing banquet at the former Sunset railway depot, I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the bidding farewell to friends and Mexicans under Santa Anna — ... Delegates to the FIAV general The enemy has demanded a surrender ... assembly vote on the admission of looking forward to the 2021 congress I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from new members. in Ljubljana, Slovenia! the walls — I shall never surrender or retreat. ... Victory or Death. — William Barret Travis, Lt. Col., If you wish to compliment the editor, or to contribute in the future, contact Ted Kaye Commanding the Alamo, Feb’y 24th 1836 at 503-223-4660 or [email protected]. If you wish to complain, call your mother.

2 The Vexilloid Tabloid July 2019 Flutterings You Need to Know In our July meeting, hosted by Ted Kaye 12 PFA members enjoyed an evening of flags and conversation. Ted moderated the discussion.

We welcomed Brittany Vega, a recent PNCA masters graduate with a special interest in Americana and the meaning of flags.

Patrick Genna unfurled the flag of Swaziland with a handout about its David Ferriday exhibits an image of a Roberta Krogman describes flag- history and meaning—especially Croatian-themed sweatshirt. related folk art. relevant because the country recently changed its name to David Ferriday, in full downsizing described a wooden pallet she eSwatini. mode, gave away a number of recently saw painted as a folk-art Max Liberman summarized the U.S.-flag-themed folk art items, U. S. flag. upcoming FIAV general assem- and shared several articles and Fred Paltridge explored the recent bly’s agenda (to be held at the ICV cartoons, including an image from controversy over our hometown in San Antonio), soliciting guid- a Croatian-themed family reunion. sportswear giant withdrawing its ance on how he should vote as Roberta Krogman marveled at all new sneakers bearing the “Betsy the PFA delegate on applicants, the flag lore she has absorbed and Ross” flag, and shared a Portland officers, and host country bids. Tribune photo of Mayor Ted Wheeler speaking in front of a Portland flag.

Patrick Genna explains the meaning Max Liberman discusses the issues to Fred Paltridge shares a flaggy Port- of the Swaziland (eSwatini) flag. face FIAV at its GA in mid-July. land Tribune item on Mayor Wheeler.

August 2019 Portland Flag Association 3

Enthusiastic members examine and choose flags and ephemera from the collection of PFA founder Don Klett.

New member Brittany Vega ponders Ted Kaye announced that Ginny presidential flag use. Klett, the widow of Don Klett (a founder of the PFA in the 1990s), Brittany Vega, describing flags as had asked that his flag materials go a new passion, led an interesting to good homes. He shared two discussion of recent presidential boxes of flags and ephemera and flag use, focusing on flag choices every member attending took in the décor of the Oval Office. several items—a wonderful full- circle redistribution of a collection Joyce Gifford showed some of the begun more than 30 years ago. latest micro-patches developed by Don would be pleased. smALLFlags, challenging folks to

identify an SOB U.S. state flag. William Gifford unveiled a newly- (North Dakota) Dakota) (North available product: a circular flag base holding 12 8”x12” flags and David Koski explains proportions in 72 4”x6” flags. He populated it new flag designs. with an assortment of flags, which members then tried to name. David Koski led a discussion of proportion in new flag design, remarking that while one designer prefers 1:2 for all flags, most trend to different proportions.

This led to an explanation of the Golden Rectangle, the Golden Ratio (a/b = (a+b)/a = 1.6180…), the Fibonacci Series, and how most standard U.S. flag sizes match pairs in the series and how they converge on the Golden Ratio. Joyce Gifford tries to stump the crowd William Gifford shows a stand that can with a small U.S. state flag. hold up to 84 large and small flags. Continued on next page

4 The Vexilloid Tabloid

Israel Núñez explains some of his new designs for country flags to Brittany Vega.

Israel Núñez has developed new The late Don Klett and his wife, Ginny, show the Klett family flag in 1990. Symbolism: “K” for “Klett”. Two stars for Don and Ginny. Four hearts for designs for overly-similar national daughters, Laura, Karla, Carolyn, with a double heart for Donna and husband flags (e.g., Romania, Moldova, Dan. (4th power will be used for grandchildren.) Colors from the Portland flag: Chad, and Andorra). blue, yellow, green and white. Source: NAVA News 23:6 (Nov.–Dec. 1990)

Michael Orelove described remind- We’re grateful to PFA members Our next meeting will be hosted ing PFA members to celebrate who open their homes and com- by Dave Anchel on 12 September Canada Day on 1 July, through a munity spaces for our bimonthly at his home in S.W. Portland. Ted letter enclosing a tiny Maple Leaf get-togethers. will deliver the PFA flag to him. Flag. He related flag stories from his recent travels (see p. 9).

Michael Orelove waves the Canadian flag to commemorate July 1, Ted Kaye and Patrick Genna enjoy a large railroad flag, Canada Day. created by Paramount Flag Company of San Francisco in the 1980s.

August 2019 Portland Flag Association 5 PFA Discussion Inspires ICV 28 Paper Mike Thomas, frequent quiz participant and contributor to the Vexilloid Tabloid, presented “Recognising flags by their Mean Colour” at ICV 28 last month.

He opened his talk by acknowledg- ing the inspiration of David Koski, who introduced the idea of a flag’s “average color” at a PFA meeting in November, 2014, followed by a VT article in February, 2015.

Mike Thomas recognizes David Koski and the PFA in his ICV 28 presentation. Mike proposed using the mean He showed “color-value” maps of (average) color as an identifier for red, white, and blue flags, further a flag for recognition purposes. suggesting that his method could He used over 50 flags to demon- be used to recognize a flag from a strate his algorithm and its effec- photograph. tiveness. For example, red, purple, A Flag Institute member based in and blue flags show that different Luxembourg (and a regular at color mixes can have the same ICVs), Mike retired from the EU’s mean, but the inclusion of the European Commission as a com- standard deviation of the color puter systems programmer, web- The foremost vexillologist of gives a suitable “color-value”. Luxembourg “means” business. master, and security specialist. Young Leaders Program Flags

Flags of simulated states designed by participants in the Young Leaders Program, held at Willamette University in Salem in June. After training in flag design, high-schoolers in groups of 4–12 created and selected designs then made into 3’x5’ flags.

6 The Vexilloid Tabloid Unofficial Bohemian Flags

By Krystof Huk nationalist initiatives have been A recent issue of Vexi-News gave working over the past decade to a link to images of a “Flag of the get hundreds of municipalities to Bohemian Kingdom”, an apparent fly it. fantasy by a Czech monarchist The Czech Vexillological Society political party. Living in Prague, has issued a press release on the I might be able to contribute some Bohemian Kingdom (unofficial). matter of the Moravian flag some information on the subject. It time back. It is unfortunately in It’s also very important to distin- appears to be a bicolor of the Czech but understandable once guish between that flag and other Landesfarben with a representation run via Google Translate. It can similar flags. Though perhaps po- of the Bohemian crown within a be found on the CVS website litically controversial, the monar- wreath of linden leaves. https://www.vexilologie.cz in chist flag is mostly harmless. In the right panel right at the bottom The flag shown is naturally unoffi- general, the Landesfarben of Bohe- titled “Odborné vexilologické cial—there has never been an offi- mia, Silesia, and Moravia, defaced stanovisko k moravské vlajce”. cial flag of Bohemia/the kingdom with a shield, are very common in aside from the Habsburg-era the nationalist community. Unlike The CVS believes that a banner of Landesfarben or various banners of the monarchist version, they don’t arms would be more fitting as an arms before that. have the crown but just a simple unofficial flag of Moravia. shield. This is the most prominent This specific flag is very prominent version used by extreme Czech in the monarchist community. It is nationalists. the Bohemian bicolor defaced with the coat of arms of Bohemia. The emblazonment is by the Austrian heraldist Hugo Gerard Ströhl: crowned with the crown of St. Wenceslaus and flanked by a wreath of linden leaves. The arms are both those of Bohemia as a Moravian Nationalist flag. province but also of Bohemia as Czech Nationalist flag. a kingdom, that is to say, the lesser arms of the Lands of the Slightly less extreme, Moravian Bohemian Crown. nationalists prefer the yellow-over- red bicolor defaced with the gold- The article claimed the photo red checkered eagle (as opposed to came from the Czech Crown, the the current silver-red eagle in the Czech monarchist party. However, national arms). This flag will likely I have been unable to find it on the be very visible in the upcoming Banner of arms of Moravia. party’s Facebook page or website days as St. Cyril and Methodius (the identical photo was sent to the Both the Moravian flags and the day, a national holiday, is coming Czech Vexillological Society by a Bohemian monarchist flag were up on the 5th of July. The two are person who appears be connected seen at recent protests in Prague. considered the patron saints of to the monarchist community). Moravia and thus Moravian Continued on next page August 2019 Portland Flag Association 7 Roundup

Silesia (unofficial).

Silesian nationalism is very rare and the Silesian defaced bicolor Jonathan Turlove baked this appears infrequently. “vexilloid” pie for Independence Day. What could be more American? He The unofficial design usually used described it as “delicious”. for Silesia is a yellow and black bicolor (the colors switch positions on different interpretations of the Michael Orelove celebrated the 50th flag) defaced by the arms of Silesia. anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on 20 July with a flag and It’s nowhere near as common as appropriate NASA garb. the Moravian flag.

More about the flags at the June The Oregon Historical Society opened protests can be found at a Face- its new permanent “Experience book post by the CVS: https:// Oregon” exhibition earlier this year. www.facebook.com/vexilologie/ It includes the hand-sewn 1861–1865 posts/2329424503770314? guidon of C Company, 1st Oregon __tn__=-R Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, which operated against Indians in the Rogue I hope this helps to explain the flag River District, as well as (ironically) a situation in Czechia when it comes display of the flags of the state’s nine to these unofficial flags. federally-recognized tribes (below).

Krystof Huk belongs to the Czech Vexillological Society and moderates Vexillology News (http://vexillologynews.com).

The image which appeared on http:// royalcentral.co.uk 6/25/19 under the headline “Bohemian royalists heavily involved in ongoing protests in the Czech Republic”.

8 The Vexilloid Tabloid Variant Flags of Puerto Rico: Red, White, Blue...and Black, and Gold? By Carlos A. Morales-Ramirez I saw another variant flag during I arrived in Puerto Rico this my visit. A gold and white version summer amid demonstrations of the national flag appeared in demanding the resignation of street art in various municipalities governor Ricardo “Ricky” Roselló. of the island. It was usually next to the black flag and/or the national The Lares flag with illustration in Throughout the protests a black street art. flag. Some street art showed all and white variant accompanied Source: Global Voices, three flags together: the national the national flag. First seen on globalvoices.org, 30 July 2019. flag, the black flag, and this gold 4 July 2016, painted on a wall of an variant. (This gold variant was not abandoned building in Old San It even inspired a painted variant flown during the recent demon- Juan, the black and white Puerto of the Lares flag in the capital as strations.) It was created in 2016 Rican flag represented an “act of a sign of fight and defiance. The for an advertising campaign from resistance”. The building, on San original Lares flag was designed as Open Mobile, a cellphone compa- José Street, bore the red, white, part of the 1868 revolt against the ny in Puerto Rico, after Monica and blue national flag before it was Spanish ruling in the island known Puig won the first Olympic gold changed to just black and white. as El Grito de Lares (the Lares medal for the island in the 2016 Uprising), literally translated: summer games in Rio de Janeiro. The group of artists that initially “Cry of Lares”. It’s been called painted the original national flag “the First Puerto Rican flag”. Influenced by the black flag, Open three years before decided to re- While the municipality of Lares Mobile marketing VP Josué Gon- paint it black due to the island’s still uses it as the city flag, the zález wanted to create something financial crisis, which they felt was Lares flag is also used island-wide positive among all the recent nega- being ignored by the United States. during demonstrations and displays tivity. The goal was to paint ten At first repainting the flag was of nationalism. doors around the island with this viewed as an act of vandalism, but flag, starting in the municipality of as timed passed Puerto Ricans Today the “Black Puerto Rican Ponce. While the effort received started backing the change and em- Flag”, as it is now known, symbol- criticism and some Puerto Ricans bracing the variant as a symbol of izes the island’s fighting stance (en were offended by the change, it is resistance and civil disobedience. pie de lucha). Due to the current now associated with victory. economic crisis and the political That black and white variant began turmoil, the black flag reminds appearing in street art with the ta- Puerto Ricans that they must con- gline “Puerto Rico está de tinue to fight no matter the influ- luto” (Puerto Rico is mourning). ence the leaders of the island try to have on them. This flag is no longer just part of a mural. It has become part of the “fighting” message that eventually gave the people what they demanded. On t-shirts, hats, and other items used The black and white Puerto Rican A poster with the black flag in Flag in a street mural. during the demonstrations, it was Old San Juan during the protests. Source: El Nuevo Día, elnuevo- even used as a message aimed di- The message: “Resign! We don’t want dia.com, 30 July 2019. rectly at the governor (right). you” (plus an offensive word). August 2019 Portland Flag Association 9 Flag Display in Baker City, Oregon By Michael Orelove Kathleen Forrest and I recently took a trip to Baker City, Oregon, and visited the Baker Heritage Museum. I noticed a display of flags and asked the museum staff about them. The flags were donated by Baker City native Wally Byam (1896– 1962), who invented the iconic Image from Open Mobile’s advertising Airstream travel trailer in 1929. campaign. It reads: “Thank you for painting it gold and for making our Byam married Stella in 1952 and flag shine again”. Source: together they traveled around the themediascoop.com, 30 July 2019. country and the world in their Airstream caravan and Wally & Stella Airstream. In the 1950s they led Byam with their trailer. caravans of Airstream enthusiasts It symbolizes all victories of Puerto to Mexico, Central America, The flags, representing many of Ricans on and off the island. Canada, Cuba, Europe, Africa, the places they visited, ended up in and the Middle East. Byam’s hometown museum. Although it is not known if the gold flag inspired the Puerto Rican baseball team players to dye their hair blonde ahead of their final match against the U.S. in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the color gold was used as a ritual for unity and bounding. This move inspired Puerto Ricans to the point that many fans on the island started to dye their hair blonde. Although Puerto Rico did not win, the “Team Rubio” (Blond Team) stole the show at the finals and created the unity the people needed during tough times. I have not seen the gold variant flag flown, only in street art across the island.

All three flags painted on a wall in La Parguera in the municipality of Lajas. Airstream founder Wally Byam’s travel-memento flags on display in Baker City.

10 The Vexilloid Tabloid Flags and the B-17 By Michael Orelove

On July 18, 2019, Kathleen and I visited an airplane hangar in Salem to see the ongoing restoration of a celebrated World War II-era B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber.

For 67 years The Lacey Lady was a famous roadside attraction at the Bomber gas station and restaurant on McLoughlin Blvd. in Milwaukie (south of Portland). A multi- million-dollar effort is under way 10 to restore it to its “flying glory”.

The room was full of heroes, including the airplane itself.

I gave a presentation about the Surrounded by components of the WWII-era B-17 The Lacey Lady in a Salem hangar, Michael Orelove gives a talk on American flags to a group of veterans. American flag to a group of 35 veterans amid pieces of the bomb- er in various stages of restoration. He told the story of fellow prison- I showed various historical ers making an American flag from American flags, including the One veteran was a B-17 pilot who pieces of cloth and keeping it hid- 46-star version given to the was shot down on July 18, 1944 den until they were liberated. He Portland Flag Association by PFA (exactly 75 years earlier) and held a called it the most patriotic flag he founder John Hood’s son Chris prisoner of war until 1945 when had ever seen. for educational presentations. the Russians liberated him. The B-17 Alliance group has free veterans coffee clubs in Milwaukie and Salem every month:

Milwaukie: 1st Friday. Bomber Restaurant, 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd., 10:00 am.

Salem: 3rd Thursday. Restoration Hangar (C), 3278 SE 25th St., 10:00 am.

More information about the bomber restoration project, the fundraising effort, and the air- plane’s fascinating history can be The former “Bomber” gas station in Milwaukie, Oregon (south of Portland). found at www.B17Alliance.com.

August 2019 Portland Flag Association 11 What’s that Flag? What Was that Flag? Answers to the last quiz

By Tony Burton By David Ferriday Quadribands are relatively rare. These flags all bear a disk—and are Identify these seven flags (details presented in order of adoption. have been removed from some). Congrats to solvers Tony Burton, Answers in the next issue... John Cartledge, Bill Neckrock, Mi- chael Orelove, and Mike Thomas. Bangladesh (1972)

Japan (1200s/1870)

Laos (1975)

Niger (1959) Palau (1981)

Australian Aboriginal (1971) Greenland (1985)

12 The Vexilloid Tabloid Portland Flag Miscellany

The iCanvas website offers the Maria Pope, CEO of Portland General “Portland, Oregon Paint Drip City Electric (the largest utility in the Flag” as a ready-to-hang framed art state), addresses City Club of Portland print. Cost with free shipping, $68. The community center at Peninsula in July in front of the flags of Oregon Park in N.E. Portland, home of the https://www.icanvas.com/canvas- and Portland. largest rose garden in the city, flies a print/portland-flagsplatters- Portland flag below the national flag. (Note how two colors of City Club’s flg318#1PFA-16x16-FM01 logo echo the Portland Flag; the logo It shows signs of extended use, Many websites offer one-off products was adopted when Sam Adams, former indicating how it has long represented based on city (and state) flags, Portland mayor and drafter of the 2002 the city on the flag pole! showing their expanding popularity in flag redesign ordinance, served as the advancing civic pride. club’s executive director.)

September Meeting

The next meeting of the Portland Flag Association will be at 7 PM, Thursday, 12 Sept. 2019, at the home of David Anchel, 3024 S.W. Flower Terrace, Portland, OR 97239.

See the map at right.

We look forward to seeing those of you who have missed recent meetings and engaging in provoca- tive flag-related discussion. Newcomers are welcome!

If you can’t get to the meeting, perhaps you can give the editor something to share with readers. The Vexilloid Tabloid , founded in 1999 by the late John Hood, is published bi-monthly by and for the Portland Flag Association—Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. Find back issues at www.portlandflag.org.

August 2019