Portland Flag Association 1 ISSN 2474-1787

Portland Flag Association “Free, and Worth Every Penny!” Issue 81 April 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Everyone versus Each One

Everyone versus Each One 1 By Ted Kaye 2018 update 2 March 2020 Flutterings A discussion during the latest PFA added a symbol Cincinnati Neighborhood Flags 4 meeting crystallized a concept I’d for the native Quarantine Flags 6 peoples—something for each. Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Flags 8 been mulling over for some time: Roundup 9 flags should represent everyone in Australia has a similar problem. In The Republic of Michael Orelove 10 a place rather than each one an interview I gave on Melbourne 11 The Flag Quiz (group) there. radio in 2015, I commented on Portland Flag Miscellany 12 how the country now flies three Next Meeting 12 The 1964 debate over a new flag for Canada struggled over how to flags officially: the national flag, represent Canadians of British and the Aboriginal flag, and the Torres www.portlandflag.org of French descent (among others). Strait Islanders flag (Australian Many proposals schools, councils, and cultural attempted to institutions typically show these flags in front of their buildings). represent both groups with Australians, with the best of inten- symbols such as tions, use three flags to represent the Union Jack and the fleur-de-lis. their country’s But the genius inhabitants. the Maple Leaf Instead of one Flag lies in how flag for each it represents group, I asserted that Australia everyone in Canada rather than each component group. needed one flag representing When designers represent multiple everyone. groups on a flag, it usually results in an overly-complex design. If flag designers would emulate Canada and sought a flag to For example, Montreal’s flag had represent everyone rather than The committee was inundated with flags—2,695 in all—extending... symbols representing the English, each one, the result would be from the conceivably acceptable to Scots, Irish, and French, then a simpler, less cluttered flags. the unbelievably appalling.

— George Bain, "Canadian Flag" If you wish to compliment the editor, or to contribute in the future, contact Ted Kaye

at 503-223-4660 or [email protected]. If you wish to complain, call your mother.

2 The Vexilloid Tabloid March 2020 Flutterings You Need to Know In our March meeting, hosted by Patrick Genna at his residence, a COVID-19-reduced group of 6 PFA members enjoyed nearly three hours of flags and conversation.

After welcoming the participants, Patrick asked Ted Kaye to moder- ate the discussion.

Max Liberman honored the 55th anniversary of the Maple Leaf Flag Patrick Genna shows his personal flag. of Canada, describing it as a flag Nathaniel Mainwaring describes flags representing everyone rather than used in video games. each one (see p. 1). Exploring games, featuring “Fallout New updates to the arms of Canada Vegas” and showing a “New Cali- (currently the arms of the queen of fornia Republic” flag with a two- Canada), he considered replacing headed bear (representing muta- the contents of the shield with a tion caused by radiation). He said simple triple-maple-leaf charge; “Overwatch” has the best flags. others suggested replacing the lion and unicorn supporters with Patrick Genna displayed his per- sonal flag—reflecting his natal a moose and a polar bear and Ted Kaye unfurls the new flag of replacing the lion in the crest with St. Louis—designed with the assis- Columbia, South Carolina. a beaver. tance of Max and manufactured with the assistance of Scott. He Ted Kaye circulated flag-image Nathaniel Mainwaring gave a short has posted it in “The International clippings of the past two months, presentation on flags in video Personal Flag Registry”—a Face- announced the printing of an up- book group with 180 members dated “Good” Flag, “Bad” Flag, and (see p. 9). He shared a pan-Celtic displayed suffrage flags and the flag designed in 1950 featuring a newly adopted flag of Columbia, double triskele. South Carolina (drawing boos).

Max Liberman explores changes to the arms of Canada. Scott Mainwaring admires the double-triskele pan-Celtic flag of 1950.

April 2020 Portland Flag Association 3

A table flag display flanks the updated “Good” Flag, “Bad” Flag.

Scott Mainwaring shows a pin from Participants exchange flags and ideas. a fictitious “communist country” created by Brian McKinley’s Young Scott Mainwaring reported on his Leaders Program in Salem Our next meeting will be hosted (see VT #59). joining the group working on a by John Schilke on 14 May in the new flag for Salem. He led a community room of his residence discussion about whether there at Mary’s Wood in Lake Oswego. are real economic implications for Patrick will take the PFA flag to countries with “bad” flag designs, him, to display as the next host. using Belize as an example, supple- mented by Ted’s comments from his field report (see VT #75).

David Koski ruminated on the constructed language “aUI”, the Language of Space (“a philosophi- cal language created in the 1950s to further intrapsychic harmony as well as interpersonal and intercul- tural understanding”). He won- dered how its symbols might be used on flags, and their interaction with the general proscription of Nathaniel Mainwaring eyes a mis- David Koski sketches symbols from writing in flag design. oriented star on this Chinese flag— the constructed language “aUI”. made in China.

4 The Vexilloid Tabloid Cincinnati Neighborhood Flags

By Scott Mainwaring  Leadership by community from a widespread recognition of activist Henry Frondorf. serious divides in the community The innovative 2019 CinciFlags (e.g., the riots following the killing project (cincyflags.com) concluded  Support from local designers, of an unarmed black teenager by in December with an official flag who organized the process and police in 2001) and thus the im- for each of the 52 neighborhoods had creative control over the portance of improving civic life. of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is an final designs. impressive accomplishment, with NAVA member and artist Cristina  Community engagement, not Victor participated in the project. generally high-quality and mean- just online but with visits and For more on the process, and an ingful designs with consistent style. workshops across the city with “stakeholder/citizens”. illustration of press coverage, What contributed to this success? see the article on portlandflag.org, We notice a number of factors:  City events, the Neighborhood with a video from local television Summit and the Frondorf- station WCPO.  Support from the city govern- founded Cincinnati Neighbor- ment, which funded the project hood Games, in which multiple Here are the 52 flags. Information with a $10,000 Engage Cincy neighborhoods participate and about their symbolism can be Challenge Grant (with private can find value in having a flag. found on FOTW.info and the matching funds for an overall CincyFlags website. budget of $20,000).  Positive press coverage, perhaps

April 2020 Portland Flag Association 5

6 The Vexilloid Tabloid Quarantine Flags

“Quarantine” derives from the 14-century Italian quaranta giorni, the 40-day period of isolation imposed to control contagion.

The current COVID-19 pandemic leads vexillologists to consider how flags have denoted quarantine, on land and at sea. We present a non- exhaustive sampler of such flags.

A plain yellow flag (for Q) was used for centuries to signal quaran- tine, but in modern use it indicates the opposite, as a signal of a ship that declares itself free of quaranti- nable disease, and requests board- ing and inspection by Port State Control to allow the grant of “free pratique”.

Baby boomers will remember the exciting scene in the 1960 Disney film Swiss Family Robinson when the father raises the “Quarantine” flag The traditional solid-yellow flag denoting quarantine. Less commonly, plain green and black flags were used. to drive off the pirates. However, (The Maritime Flags and Standards of All Nations according to the Internet Movie Together With a Geographical Sketch, 1856) Database, the movie incorrectly used the “India” signal flag, a black disk on a yellow field.

The nautical signal flag “Quebec” (Q) The signal flag “Lima”, also called the was historically used to denote “Yellow Jack” when flown in harbor, quarantine but in modern now means “ship is under The signal flag “India” (I) incorrectly indicates the opposite—that a ship is quarantine”. (Wikipedia) used for “quarantine” in the 1960 film free of disease. (Wikipedia) Swiss Family Robinson. (IMDb.com) Continued on next page April 2020 Portland Flag Association 7

JAPAN (1913): A white flag with a 検 yellow border and a stylized kanji JAPAN (1955–1970): The traditional quarantine flag. (Ken) for keneki (quarantine) in black. Animal Quarantine ship ensign (National Geographic Magazine, (FOTW) adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture “Our Flag Number”, October 1917) & Forestry. (FOTW)

“The yellow flag betokens infec- tions illness, and is displayed when there is cholera, yellow fever, or such like dangerous malady on board ship, and is also hoisted on quarantine stations.”

The Flags of the World, F. Edward JAPAN (1921–1948). (FOTW) Hulme, 1897 JAPAN (from 1970): Animal Quarantine ship ensign adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry. (FOTW)

JAPAN (1948–1954): The white flag TURKEY: A yellow flag with the with large yellow “Q” was used but national flag in the canton represents the white flag was hard to distinguish “Port Health Control”. (FOTW) at sea. (FOTW)

JAPAN (from 1954): The current flag An OSHA-compliant “quarantine RUSSIA (pre-1865): The field divided of quarantine is a yellow over blue infective outbreak sign”, using the by a white Andrew’s cross amid yellow bicolor flag with a blue “Q” at the recognizable yellow and black, as and green triangles. (FOTW) upper hoist. (FOTW) marketed today by safetysign.com.

8 The Vexilloid Tabloid Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Flags

By Aleksander Hribovšek The fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) now has its own flag.

Heraldica Slovenica, the Heraldry Society of Slovenia, has embraced the initiative seen in Belgium and proposed a special flag in support of all medical staff in their efforts.

We welcome the Belgian initiative to express support for medical workers by flying a white flag over the royal palace and other build- ings. However, a white flag gener- ally stands for surrender, a decision to quit, or a plea to negotiate. We The flag for the fight against coronavirus (proposed by Heraldica Slovenica). believe that medical workers put their enormous effort in the oppo- site direction—they are not surren- dering, they are not quitting, and they do not want to negotiate with the disease.

Heraldica Slovenica took the initia- tive and added a symbolic repre- sentation of hope that unites all people: the victory of health care over the pandemic. The existing white field was overlaid by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil is illuminated with flags of affected countries. symbol of healthcare workers and medicine (the Rod of Asclepius) An interesting flag-based COVID-19 image has been circulating widely on rising over a defeated and over- the internet, starting at the latest on turned crown, representing the February 29 and appearing in altered coronavirus (Lat. corona). versions in the following weeks.

By flying this flag, we express our It has undergone political mutation— immense gratitude and support to note how the figure in Arab headdress alternately uses the Saudi Arabian, doctors, nurses, and other workers Israeli, and Palestinian flags. in health care and other services who are protecting our society!

For more information, visit heraldica-slovenica.si

April 2020 Portland Flag Association 9 Roundup

Regarding “What’s in a Word”, a listing of vexi-words in the last VT…Phil Allen reminds us of vexor, used by the late Whitney Smith and Peter Orenski for a form of flag deity or master (and Whitney’s e-mail address). Gus Tracchia writes “You need to add to the glossary: vexillophagus, one that eats flags, like my 11- month-old niece.”

A neighbor in the Willamette Heights area, a UK citizen, enjoys flying unusual flags (see VT#72).

Find “The International Personal Flag Registry” (flag at right) at facebook.com/groups/ Flag of The International 2178328895820873/ Personal Flag Registry

Regarding the inquiry from the UK asking help in identifying this flag, seen in an image of a jet plane in the 1980s:

Many readers responded, but none with any confident or definitive answer. It remains a mystery.

Various Scandinavian flags were The “thin blue line” variant of the U.S. flag flies at a house on the main street offered for sale at the recent ScanFair, of Silverton, Oregon. Scott Mainwaring’s next NAVA presentation will focus spotted by John Niggley. on this controversial symbol.

10 The Vexilloid Tabloid The Republic of Michael Orelove

Turla + Orelove = Turlove. Michael Orelove, his son Jonathon Turlove, and his son’s father-in- law Ernie Turla hold the Philip- pines flag at a luau fundraiser for a medical mission to the Philippines. Personal flag for Michael Orelove, by Hannah Turlove. They are all wearing a barong, an embroidered formal shirt and con- sidered the national dress of the By Michael Orelove One quarter has a Telescope. Philippines. It is lightweight and I am an amateur astronomer and worn untucked over an undershirt. I just received a handmade flag have a few telescopes which I from my granddaughter, Hannah When flying the Philippine flag the bring out to view the night sky. Turlove, a college sophomore. blue field should be on top in time I also have a solar telescope to of peace and the red field on top in The flag is for the “Republic of safely view the sun. time of war. Michael Orelove”. On the flag she One quarter has a Time Capsule. Michael’s son, Jonathon Orelove, put my picture in the center and I have 20-year Time Capsules. married Ernie’s daughter, Pam in each of the four quarters she Every year I fill up a box with stuff Turla. When Jonathon and put symbols of various activities and wait 20 years before I open it. Pam had their daughter, Hannah, in my life. This year, 2020, I will be opening they changed their last names to One quarter has the image of a the Time Capsule from the year Turlove. Gold Panner. When I lived in 2000. Juneau I used to pan for gold The quarters alternate red and and teach other people how to blue. pan. They all found gold (actually, they found all the gold I salted in I plan to have a real flag made the pan). from her handmade flag so I can fly it on my flagpole. Of course One quarter has a Mail Box. I will first have to buy a flagpole. I like to send out mail to people and organizations and I like to Thank you, Hannah! receive mail back. Michael and granddaughter Hannah.

April 2020 Portland Flag Association 11 What’s that Flag? What Was that Flag? Answers to the last quiz

By Scott Mainwaring By Bard & Benjamin Cosman Name these flags and identify the In this vexi-version of the Congratulations to solvers theme connecting them. “Country Game”, the last letter of John Cartledge, Bill Neckrock, each name overlaps with the first and Mike Thomas. Answers in the next issue... of the next. These flags thus spell out “BAHAMAS”.

Bavaria Anaheim (California)

Antioch (California) Malta

Horta (Azores, Portugal) Asturias

12 The Vexilloid Tabloid Portland Flag Miscellany

The flag of the North Portland neighborhood of St. Johns flies below The League of Women Voters of Portland celebrated 100 years of U.S. women’s the U.S. flag. suffrage—and the centennial of the League’s founding—in a gala event in February 2020. Portland neighborhood flags were developed around 1990 in a city-wide Here Debbie Kaye, president, introduces the flags on display: project that produced over 80 flags. U.S., Oregon, Portland, and the Alice Paul banner Only a few are currently used to any (in the U.S. suffrage colors of yellow-white-purple and 36 stars representing the extent. states which ratified the 19th Amendment).

May Meeting

The next meeting of the Portland Flag Association (COVID-19 allowing), will be at 7 PM, Thursday, 14 May 2020, at Mary’s Woods, the retirement village of John Schilke, 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego.

See the map at right.

We look forward to seeing those of you who have missed recent meetings and engaging in provoca- Enter the DUROCHER parking lot. The number (17440) is over tive flag-related discussion. the entrance area of the apartment building. Park in an empty (free) space with a BLUE FLAG in the parking area. If nobody’s at the If you can’t get to the meeting, door, call John’s cell phone: 503-459-1213. 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.

April 2020