Portland Flag Association 1 ISSN 2474-1787

Portland Flag Association “Free, and Worth Every Penny!” Issue 62 February 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Origin of the PFA

The Origin of the PFA 1 By Ted Kaye It read, “Don—we may have the January 2017 Flutterings 2 Recently I was delighted to find makings of a Portland Chapter. 4 Book Review: Confederate Flag what may be the seminal docu- Do you feel like organizing one?” Roundup 5 ment of the PFA. At that time Don was on NAVA’s Alternative Flags for Earth 6 Membership Committee. Update on Milwaukee, Wisconsin 7 Our official history (see VT #49 Does the Deep Sea Need a Flag? 8 and the PFA website) begins with Don, Harry, and I were among William & Mary...and St. Andrew 10 an organizing meeting held during those five, and we soon got togeth- The Flag Quiz 11 NAVA 28 in Portland in October er to propose holding a NAVA Portland Flag Miscellany 12 1994. Harry Oswald had conven- meeting. Harry took the lead, and Next Meeting 12 ed a meeting of people interested recruited others to the organizing www.portlandflag.org in creating a Cascadia Region committee, including John Hood. flag group, under NAVA and the This appears to push the origin of Canadian Flag Association. That the PFA back more than 25 years group, after one quarterly meeting to that note to Don Klett. At the in Seattle in April, 1995, quickly most recent PFA meeting, we contracted to the Portland-only passed that note around. Members entity which eventually named it- of a group that has now grown to self the Portland Flag Association. over 40 participants got to see what However, the origin of the PFA started it all. goes back further. Seeking some We now follow in the footsteps information to help Kin Spain with of Don Klett, Harry Oswald, and his research about the NAVA 28 John Hood, three generous leaders flag, I just examined the paper files who hosted the PFA meetings for of the late Don Klett, one of years before it had even adopted NAVA 28’s organizers and a that name. Here’s to 25 more years founder of the PFA. (His materi- of local flag enthusiasm! als came to me from his widow, Ginny, after his death in 2000.) The Vexilloid Tabloid now sports I was surprised to find a note from an ISSN! The U.S. International I prefer someone who burns the me dated May 1991, listing five Standard Serial Number Center flag and then wraps himself up in the Constitution over someone “NAVA Members or Flag Enthu- at the Library of Congress assign- who burns the Constitution and siasts in the Portland Area”. ed the number in September 2016. then wraps himself up in the flag.

If you wish to compliment the editor, or to contribute in the future, contact Ted Kaye —Molly Ivins at 503-223-4660 or [email protected]. If you wish to complain, call your mother.

2 The Vexilloid Tabloid January 2017 Flutterings You Need to Know In our January meeting, hosted by Jessie Spillers and delayed two weeks because of the snow, 11 PFA members enjoyed a lively 3-hour evening of flags. In the usual role of the host, Jessie moderated the discussion.

He started us off with an entertain- ing YouTube video: “25 Astound- ing Things You Never Knew Artist and architect David Ferriday has About Flags”. a keen eye for flag-related art.

David Ferriday brought folk art featuring flags and showed an Fred Paltridge wears yellow image of a U.S. flag made from to celebrate January. He declaims baseballs displayed at the Red before David Ferriday’s flag folk art. Robin restaurant on N.E. Grand.

Fred Paltridge expanded on his Max Liberman displayed the flag thinking on identical national flags, of the mythical Kingdom of Æfira, and how Monaco might differ Affable host Jessie Spillers (see VT #31) honoring the sover- moderates the meeting. from Indonesia—perhaps with a eign’s/his 11 January birthday, and red and white lozengy design. showed the nautical signal flags for Esperanto letters with diacritics.

Max Liberman displays the nautical signal flags for the Esperanto letters Ĉ Ĝ Ĥ Ĵ Ŝ Ŭ. All use green, an Scott Mainwaring stumps the crowd with a Labrador flag— Esperanto color, not otherwise used in Fred Paltridge looks on as Max Liberman takes his usual copious notes. signal flags. http://lingvo.org/flagoj February 2017 Portland Flag Association 3

Second Life, an online virtual world, Michael Orelove displays his flag combining Oregon and California elements. intrigues David Koski with the opportunity to find flags. Michael Orelove and Kathleen Our next meeting will be at the David Koski described his recent Forrest shared a California-Oregon home of Patrick Genna on March explorations in the online virtual combo flag (see p. 5). 9. He promises to give away a world Second Life, and the flags large number of flags acquired at Scott Mainwaring described the Goodwill. he occasionally finds there. flag of the African kingdom of Ted Kaye brought a number of “Wakanda” in the Black Panther Patrick took the Portland Flag As- items. He shared clippings from graphic novel series, and unfolded sociation flag home with him—the the Wall Street Journal, cartoons his flag for Pluto, an alternative customary task of the next host. from Phil Allen, articles from the flag for Earth (see p. 6), and Labra- Economist and the American Legion, dor’s popular but unofficial flag. and the suite of personal flags he’d Patrick Genna talked about immi- designed for his family. He also gration and immigrants, including told of the NWGSD flag he’d his Sicilian grandmother, and un- helped get manufactured (see p. 5). furled a flag for her. He brought We welcomed Liam Dubay, a new a very worn U.S. flag for respectful member, who debuted the flag disposal by Michael. he’d designed for his robotics team at Grant High School. A senior there, Liam’s flag replaced a simple name-on-a-banner design.

Liam Dubay’s flag for the Grant High School robotics team combines school Ted Kaye shows a clipping of the flag colors (blue & gray), a gear for ma- Patrick Genna honors his used by local activist group NWGSD. chinery, and 4 stars for General Grant. Sicilian grandmother.

4 The Vexilloid Tabloid Book Review: 50 Facts You May Not Know About the Confederate Flag

By Ted Kaye Save your money. This book is a disappointment. NAVA 51 Make your plans now to attend Its blurb begins with “This book the 51st annual meeting of the is comprised [sic] entirely of facts. North American Vexillological No opinion is rendered.” Association, October 13–15 in I bought it, intrigued by its possi- Boston, Massachusetts. ble socio-political agenda. It is in This will be the third time NAVA the “Just for Facts Educational has met in Boston, and the meeting Series”, which also has subjects will include a special tribute to the such as the executive branch, organizer of modern vexillology, Black Confederate soldiers, Boston-area native Whitney Smith. slavery, and Donald Trump. See www.nava.org for more info. Instead of a screed, I found a skimpy pamphlet describing the basics about the Confederacy’s “heritage not hate” intent, but flags. Yes, it was indeed all facts without any analysis or interpreta- and no opinion, but really just a tion, it falls short of anything but short essay stretched into 50 one- recounting facts. and sometimes two-sentence items Its final “fact” describes the 2015 on 26 pages. Charleston shootings and the re- ICV 27 The illustrations all appear in gray- sulting removal of the Confederate Make your plans now to attend scale—ludicrous for a flag book. Battle Flag from the South Caroli- the 27th International Congress They are accurate as far as they go, na state house grounds (see VT of Vexillology, 7–11 August in but laughably omit outlines, so the #61). Indeed, it appears to have London, England. Max Liberman flags with white fields disappear been produced hastily immediately will be the PFA’s delegate to the onto the page—a real problem after those events. general assembly of FIAV, the with the 2nd and 3rd Nat’l Flags! International Federation of Vexil- Apparently the booklet now has a lological Associations. The writing is replete with typos sequel, with 50 more facts. Don’t and the layout is juvenile. The bother. The Flag Institute, organizer of first chapters are labeled “Facts this ICV, also hosted the ICVs in 1–10 and Facts 12–20”. Basic ISBN-13: 978-1515099222 York (2001), Oxford (1983), and proofreading, please! 26 pages. Black & white illustra- London (1973). tions. $7.99 July 15, 2015 I’m not sure what the book tries to See www.icv27.co.uk for accomplish, except to get readers’ J. D. Manchester, author; more info. Early registration money. It may have had a William Barclay Masterson, ed. ends 28 February.

February 2017 Portland Flag Association 5 Roundup

THE BEAVER RIDES THE BEAR Protesting in downtown Portland Michael Orelove continues his in support of the Malheur occupiers. innovative re-imaginings of flags.

His niece and her family came from Culver City California to the Portland area to visit for the holidays. In honor of their visit he modified the California For the past year Michael Orelove has been sending a 12 x 18-inch state flag to flag with the beaver from an old Kathleen Forrest’s granddaughters each week, calling it the “Flag of the Week Oregon flag. Club”. They now have all 50 state flags and sent Michael a photo of them with L to R: Ajae, Milo, and Jess. the flags. From left: Kathryn, Margaret, and Amelia Forrest.

Scott Mainwaring took his sons to the Women’s March on 21 January and decided they’d carry (wear) flags instead of signs. Here are Henry with the Adbusters anti-oligarchy flag and Nathaniel with “New Glory” celebrating American diversity.

Concerned Portland women formed the group “Nasty Women Get Stuff Done” shortly after the November election, a reference to then-candidate Donald Trump’s calling Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” during the final presidential debate. (“Stuff” is a bowdlerized version of a more coarse word.)

The group has created a sign in the form of the U.S. flag, illustrated with a variety of social values that members advocate. It is selling the 14” x 22” sign, 11”x17” posters, 3’ x 5’ flags, and 3”x4” stickers, promoting them on Facebook. PSU biol- ogist Jason Maxfield originated the sign concept, originally in rainbow colors. Ostrich Society of America 2016–2021. A flag proposed by Portland architect The sign is shown here, held by Rita King at the Portland Women March Against Jay Shoemaker. Hate on 3 December, in an image by Allan Brettman of The Oregonian.

6 The Vexilloid Tabloid Alternative Flags for Earth In 2015, the online magazine WIRED UK compiled flags for Earth, “designed by visionaries and hippies”. Writer Katie Collins was inspired by the Oskar Pernefeldt “International Flag of Planet Earth”, and gathered several others.

Wikipedia also has an article on The “World Flag”, designed by “Flag of the Earth”, with more The United Nations flag (1945), argua- Paul Carroll in New York in 1988, such flags. bly representing Earth, developed by combining 216 individual flags and a committee based on a design by updated multiple times since. Thanks to PFA members John U.S. architect Donal McLaughlin. Carroll of the World Flag for bringing these to our attention and Scott Mainwaring for showing us his full-size Pernefeldt flag.

The “World Citizen” flag of the World Service Authority, designed in The “One World Flag”, which 1953 by founder Garry Davis. came to designer David Bartholomew in a dream in 1996.

An obvious “Earth Flag” using the planet’s astronomical symbol, by multiple independent designers.

“Earth’s Flag” designed by Redditor The “Earth Day Flag”, designed by “thefrek” in 2012 and shared on John McConnell in 1969 based on a reddit.com along with a gallery of NASA photo, later updated to the flags for all the planets. famous 1972 “Blue Marble” image.

The “World Peace Flag of Earth”, designed by Ohio minister James William van Kirk in 1913 and adopted by the Universal Peace Congress.

Sources: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/ alternative-world-flags The “Flag of the Earth”, by Illinois The “International Flag of Planet farmer James W. Cadle in 1970, Earth”, by Oskar Pernefeldt of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ showing the Sun, Earth, and Moon, Beckmans College of Design in Flag_of_Earth and favored by SETI researchers. Stockholm, Sweden, in 2015.

February 2017 Portland Flag Association 7 Update on Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Proposed Flag Here in Portland we must specify “Milwaukee, Wisconsin” because otherwise folks might think we’re referring to our neighboring city— Milwaukie, Oregon. (The spelling difference reflects mid-1800s in- consistencies...our neighbor was in fact named for the Wisconsin city.)

Steve Kodis, the designer behind the effort to replace the Milwaukee flag, has sent an update. In 2016 he successfully concluded an ex- tensive flag-design contest (over The Design Program at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee 2,000 entries) which delivered (alma mater of Steve Kodis) proudly displays the flag. five finalist designs for public vote. Although the winner, “Sunrise Over the Lake”, has yet to be officially adopted, an alderman has agreed to sponsor a bill to Steve Kodis has emblazoned his bring it to the Common Council. Subaru with a nice custom sticker. Meanwhile, Steve and the flag’s designer, Robert Lenz, are busy promoting what they call “The People’s Flag of Milwaukee”, reporting that “people have really been adopting the new flag as a symbol.” Apparently most people now call it the “new Milwaukee Karl Ratzsch, a classic German flag”. Steve sent us these images. restaurant in downtown Milwaukee, organically purchased the new flag to accompany the U.S., German, and Wisconsin flags on its building. The city asked for a special flag ornament to adorn the Christmas tree in front of City Hall.

Proponents now have an on-line store selling flags, pins, stickers, apparel, and accessories.

For the store and much more on the Milwaukee flag effort, visit: A climbing enthusiast went out of his way to have a custom fall pad The symbol has made its way to  milwaukeeflag.com stitched up with the flag image. Sydney, Australia, as a t-shirt.  instagram.com/mkeflag

8 The Vexilloid Tabloid Does the Deep Sea Need a Flag? By Carlos Alberto Morales Ramirez As a vexillologist and a geographer, I am fascinated by the intersection of flags and geography. With over 70% of the earth’s surface covered by oceans, that’s a lot of territory Figure 3. to represent—even just the surface. Proposed “Flag of the World And the deep sea is not only the Ocean” (2012) (Julius C). least-explored region, but the least- flagged as well. Many ocean flag designs exist. In just one example, a Julius C has The National Geographic Society’s proposed a “Flag of the World flag has to be one of the most Ocean”, with wavy blue and white “well-traveled” flags out there. It asymmetric stripes. is flown in most of the organiza- tion’s research and explorations, But if the deep sea were to have its even reaching Earth’s poles and own flag, what elements should be being held by a chimpanzee (see Figure 2. used for its design? With so little James Cameron holding the NGS flag dozens of images at https:// known about this place on Earth, after his mission to the Mariana what would be the symbolism be- www.pinterest.com/t_prof/pel-nat Trench in 2012. -geo-society-photos/). It is also hind it? Is a flag for the deep sea one of the few flags to have gone flag beneath the sea in the North even necessary? Instead of having into outer space. Pole, and even the West Papua its own flag, should we consider (Indonesia) flag in the seas off using a country’s flag for deep-sea Explorers are not afraid to get Vanuatu. locations? This could create con- it wet either! The flag has been flict, since some deep-sea locations displayed in underwater expedi- In 2012, James Cameron, the lie between more than one country. tions many times. Other flags renowned director of box office For the Mariana Trench, should underwater include the Singapore successes such as Titanic and Ava- one use the flag of the Northern flag at one of the events during the tar, completed his deep-sea dive Mariana Islands or Guam—or that country’s 50-year independence into the Mariana Trench, east of of the United States, since these celebration in 2015, the Russian the Mariana Islands in the Pacific. are U.S. possessions? He reached the bottom of the trench at almost 11 km (nearly 7 The deep sea is the area of the mi.). He was photographed hold- ocean where the light starts to fade, ing the NGS flag after one of his approximately 200 meters below expeditions although it is not clear the surface. The vexillology blog if he actually took the flag with him spot “The Voice of Vexillology, to his expedition. Flags & Heraldry” (see http:// zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/) It would be interesting to know provides a possible flag for the Figure 1. Flag of the National Geographic if this flag or any other flag has deep sea. The flag design is for the Society (1903). The colors represent reached the deepest and darkest entire deep sea, for the economic sky, earth, and sea. part of the ocean...I know of none. zone unclaimed by nations.

February 2017 Portland Flag Association 9

Figures:

1. Image from FOTW: https:// flagspot.net/flags/us-ngs.html

2. Photo by Mark Thiessen, cour- tesy of the National Geograph- Figure 6. ic, obtained from http:// Figure 4. Color number codes explaining press.nationalgeographic.com/ Proposed flag of the deep-sea the color selection of the proposed about-national-geographic/ international waters (Christopher Mariana Trench flag. Maddish). milestones/ on 10 January 2017 These proposals spark many more The flag has four vertical stripes questions. 3. Retrieved from https:// and uses a palette of cold colors: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ blue, navy blue, indigo, and white. If a contest called for flag designs File:Flag_of_the_World_Ocea It doesn’t provide more infor- for specific locations of the deep n_(Proposal).PNG on 28 Jan- mation about the symbolism. sea, is Maddish’s design a good uary 2017 representation? “zebratigerfish” is the nom de web of Note: an online search for Christopher Maddish, a NAVA What other elements could we “Ocean + Flag” yields a member and active creator of flag incorporate? This area is home to tremendous variety of existing designs. On 23 June 2016 he post- many endemic sea creatures. Since and proposed flag designs for ed his interpretation of a flag for animals are used as symbols in the ocean in general and for the Mariana Trench, the object of flags, it is possible to include them specific named oceans and seas Cameron’s expedition in 2012. in a flag of a deep-sea location. in particular. These will pro- The design is based on the location However, since much of the deep vide vexillologists with an am- of the area of the trench explored sea is still unexplored, would an ple field of future study. by Cameron. The red, green, and animal on the flag be a true repre- orange colors of the stripes indi- sentation? 4. Retrieved from http:// cate the number 142 (see Figure 5), zebratigerfish.blogspot.sg When it comes to colors, should the longitude of the location, and /2015/10/deep-sea- we incorporate black, since there is the two red 5-pointed stars indicate international-waters-flag.html no intrusion of light at such depth? the number 11, the latitude of the on 16 January 2017 location. The pentagon in the cen- Since there is still research needed 5. Retrieved from http:// ter indicates the location of the of the deep sea, it may be challeng- zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/ trench in the Eastern Hemisphere. ing to “nail down” a truly repre- 2016/06/flag-for-challenger- sentative flag. It will be interesting deep-deepest-part.html on 10 to see what vexillographers come January 2017 up with the current information available. Christopher Maddish’s 6. Retrieved from http:// approach is definitely a good start- zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/ ing point! 2016/06/flag-for-challenger- deep-deepest-part.html on 10 Carlos Morales is a PhD student in Figure 5. January 2017 Geography, currently studying at the Proposed flag of the Mariana Trench (Christopher Maddish). National University of Singapore.

10 The Vexilloid Tabloid William & Mary … and St. Andrew

By David Ferriday heraldry and symbols to represent which incorporated the Studium Generale in 1411 or 1412. Some of our PFA members and the shared experience of its friends are as interested in heraldry students. It was designed by the Featured in the William & Mary coat as they are in flags. Here is the Ormond Pursuivant of the Court of arms, the sun rising represents the fountain of life and is indicative of glory story of a unique coat of arms. of the Lord Lyon (the official heraldry office for Scotland) and by and splendour. The College of William & Mary two students from the program’s An open book with red page edges (my alma mater) was the first first cohort, Andrew Hashim and traditionally represents learning. American institution of higher Abigail Gomulkiewicz. The griffin is a mythical creature with learning with a royal coat of The Lord Lyon King of Arms the body of a lion evoking historic royal arms—granted 14 May 1694 by founding and early history and the head granted the arms. The program’s the College of Arms in London. of an eagle which suggests the national website describes its meaning: symbol of the United States and repre- Since 2011 it has partnered with sents the presidents, leaders, and pro- QUAERITE ADSIDUE the University of St. Andrews in ductive citizens whom William & Mary ERUDITIONEM—SEEK TO has trained for centuries. Scotland to offer a joint degree, CONSTANTLY LEARN an International Honors BA. The lion rampant is taken from the The four-year undergraduate The crossed keys represent the College royal arms of Scotland and represents of William & Mary, the University of degree combines the best of both the royal authority of King James I St. Andrews, and the Joint Degree Pro- schools’ educational experiences. (1406–1437) who was associated with gramme. They are intertwined to sym- the foundation of the University of bolise the strength of the relationship. Likewise, the program’s coat of St. Andrews. The gold diamonds (or mascles) are arms combines each university’s I’m pleased to share this interesting taken from the personal arms of Henry Wardlaw, Bishop of St. Andrews 1404– new coat of arms with the PFA. 1440, who issued the original charter

+ =

The mascot (griffin) and arms (1694) of the College of William & Mary, Virginia, USA (left) and the arms The arms of the joint program of the (1905) of the University of St. Andrews, College of William & Mary and the Fife, Scotland, UK (above). University of St. Andrews.

February 2017 Portland Flag Association 11 What’s that Flag? What Was that Flag? Answers to the last quiz

By Tony Burton By Scott Mainwaring Can you name these seven flags, Thanks in large part to a popular which have an obvious common 2015 TED Talk by Roman Mars theme? on the shortcomings of many city flag designs, efforts are under way in many U.S. cities to improve their flag designs—or to adopt Dallas, Texas flags for the first time. These are seven of many proposals documented on portlandflag.org.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Columbus, Ohio

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nauru

Kingston, New York El Paso, Texas

12 The Vexilloid Tabloid Portland Flag Miscellany

Portland’s flag graces the cover of a Field Notes product, an American notebook brand of memo books and Portland’s own Leatherman Tool Group featured a Timbers Army image related accessories. The brand is a in a recent advertisement in Portland Monthly, featuring many flags— joint venture between Portland-based among them the city of Portland’s. Draplin Design Co. and Chicago- Leatherman makes the famous and eponymous multi-tool. based design firm Coudal Partners.

March Meeting

The next meeting of the Portland Flag Association will be at 7 PM, Thursday, 9 March 2017, in the community space at the home of Patrick Genna: 1865 N.E. Davis St., Portland, OR 97232.

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.

February 2017