Statue of Liberty Picture

Statue Of Liberty: The Historical Monument

Liberty Enlightening the World, or commonly referred to as the statue of liberty turned out to be a prize awarded by the French state for the United States in commemoration of American independence.

Statue Of Liberty is a universal symbol of democracy and freedom that was dedicated as a gift from the France people for the United State for friendship. It became the National Monument in 1924 and on July 4, 1986 the Statue celebrated the 100th birthday. Statue of Liberty has become the pride of the American people because the statue is very well known all over the world and this statue became a symbol of the United States, the statue was unveiled in October 28 1886 and sculpture by the designer of the Eiffel Tower tower Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, and Gustave Eiffel.

Here are some statue of liberty picture :

As National Monument, visitors can come to enter the statue for educational or recreational purpose. Statue Of Liberty operating hours based on the ferry schedule as it is located on an island. the early ferry depart at 9.30 AM from mainland while the second depart at 3.30 PM. the last ferry depart from the island is at 5.00 PM. the entrance fee varies based on the age of visitors as well as access and tours such as Crown Access, Pedestal Access, Audio Tours, And  Ranger Tours. Some of them are restricted to access by children and need early reservation so plan your visit carefully. Children under 4 years old are free to enter but they are not allowed to access the Crown. Pedestal access is free to go for everyone. The ferry fee start from USD9 to USD18 and the Crown can be accessed by paying USD3. You can visit the museum and park at the area for more information and history of the Statue Of Liberty.

Iberian Penincular

I got the idea for this post after watching a video on YouTube about the evolution of the national flags of the Iberian Peninsular (Spain and Portugal). See below:

I thought what if there was a flag for the Iberian Peninsular? Perhaps for a political union, or for a monetary union or joint sport team or even just as a geographical flag? 

I admit I am not the first person to think about this, and quick search on YouTube will find flag designs for both fictitious states and alternative history. Here are a few of my favourites:



 This flag for a fictitious state, possibly inspired by the UK Flag, combines the early flag of Portugal, with what appears to be a saltire cross in the Spanish colours probably based on the cross of Burgundy.  Both the Spanish and Portuguese coat of arms (including the supporters) are combined.

This flag combines the Current Spanish flag, with the flag that was used by the old Portuguese Monarchy. Again the coat of arms are combined but with the Portuguese shield being placed in the centre. The use of the old flag of Portugal and use of the crown suggests this alterative history state is a monarchy.

Some flags are/were used by the Iberian Federalism movements, which also use the colours of spain and the old Portugal flag:

This flag of Iberia was created by a Catalonian diplomat in  1854, although it has no official status in any country it is technically older than the current flags of both Spain and Portugal. Despite the fact it is a little outdated supporters of Iberian Federalism continue to use these colours today. Personally I don't like it, it looks like some sort of signal flag and reminds me of the House Flag and Jack of the ship company P&O :

Which is no coincidence as in its early days the company initially sailed ships between England and Spain an Portugal. 



Personally I think the best flag I saw and the one I am going to base my proposal on is this:



It combines the current flags of the two countries, it also combines the coat of arms two.

My design is based on this but only using the shield of the coat of arms:

Normally I don't like putting coats of arms on flags but without one I don't think the flag works as well without it. I left out any monarchist or republican symbols so it would be acceptable in a non political context like sport. Perhaps an alternative to the arms are two stars representing the two countries:







 Stars I think are more neutral in any kind of environment as coats of arms seem to suggest a political union, where stars allow it to be used in sport, or simply in a geographical nature.



CG2:Anguilla

the second in a series of posts in the countdown to the Commonwealth Games. The first team I am going to look at is Anguilla.
Like most British Overseas Territories the Anguilla flag consists of a British blue ensign defaced with the territories arms:

While the use of ensigns at sea (which is where the flags were originally only meant to be used) is good. I think events like this highlights the impracticality of flags like this on land and at sporting events. For example a lot of countries and territories in the games use similar flags like this, these could be easily mistaken on a scoreboard.

I am of the opinion that Overseas territories at least should fallow the example of Gibraltar. At sea Gibraltar vessels use an ensign with the territories arms:

However on land and for sporting events a banner of arms is used as the territories flag:

As a result Gibraltar has a more distinct and recognisable flag than any other BOTs and has not lost any of its identify or sovereignty as some people might say in regards to changing flags.

Anguilla also has the advantage as it doesn't need a new flag, it could use the rather good Dolphin flag that was used when it declared independence from the former Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, in 1967 until it chose to regain UK sovereignty in 1969:



 This flag is still in used in the form of arms on the current flag, and is still used unofficially today, so it is perhaps the best option for a flag in the Commonwealth Games at least.

To see the first Commonwealth Games Post click here, and remember to look out for the 'CG' in the title for future Commonwealth Games posts.



American Flag Etiquette

American Flag Etiquette That You Need to Know

A country flag is considered as important aspect so flag must be follow flag code stipulated by law. Flag code or etiquette in America is stipulated by the federal law. American Flag Etiquette includes the flag should be under light like sunlight or other appropriate light source all time. It also has to be flown in mild weather except the material of flag is for any weather condition. Any person or thing should not wear flag and fly it upside down except as a distress signal. You should not use flag for general decoration. 

For decoration, there are banner of blue, red and white stripes but the blue stripe should be on top. Do not use flag for advertising especially if it is printed, embroidered or used as boxes, napkins or handkerchief, or anything for temporary use. The flag should not be used as part of uniform or costume, but flag patch can be put on uniform of policeman, fireman, military personnel or patriotic organization. There should not be word, figure, number, drawing, mark or such attached or placed on a flag. It should not be used to deliver, carry, hold or receive anything. There is more American Flag Etiquette that you should respect and implement in your daily life.

It was not till June 24, 1912, that the proportions of the American national flag came to be prescribed. As a result, flags made before this year show different patterns of the stars and unusual proportions. But mostly, stars were placed in a straight row and had proportions more / less similar to the ones now accepted.

Several acts have determined the evolution of the American national flag. According to the First Flag Act, passed in 1777, it was established that the American national flag would comprise thirteen red & white stripes and thirteen white stars against a blue background. In January 1794, it had 15 stars and 15 stripes.

 

N.Ireland close to New Flag?

Northern Ireland might be close to getting a new flag.
In NI at the moment their is a panel made up representatives of the main parties in the Northern Ireland Executive, to try to find a solution to issues like flags and symbols, parading and how the past is dealt with, things that hamper community relations and have still not yet been resolved. the media has dubbed these negotiations the "Haass Talks" as it is independently chaired by the former US Envoy to Northern Ireland, Ambassador Richard Haass. In the run up to these the "Independent Chair and Vice Chair of the Panel of Parties in the NI Executive on Parades and Protests, Flags, Symbols and Emblems, and Related Matters and the Past" (a long name, but I guess it says it all!) asked for the opinions and ideas of organisations and members of the public.
I sent in a query about an official new Northern Ireland Flag, and have received a replay suggesting that a new NI Flag will be one of the things the panel will be discussing. Although the politicians here would disagree on the colour of the sky, I am hopeful as this is probably the closest Northern Ireland has come to getting its own flag since 1973, and I didn't want to keep this to myself.

Chelsea Pensioners

Coming up to Remembrance Sunday I wanted to do something veterans related. My first thought was the Royal British Legion, who support ex service men and women, the wounded and their families and those bereaved as a result of war through the poppy appeal.  However as they already have a standard design for a flags and ceremonial colours, this seemed a little pointless.
So my attention turned towards the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which is a retirement and nursing home for old soldiers. Its in-pensioners (affectionately known as the Chelsea Pensioners)  are famous throughout the country and are easily identified by their long scarlet coats and tricorne hats and shakos. Chelsea Pensioners contain many Second World War Veterans and often play a key role in Remembrance events across the country, they also have their own local parade called founders day, when they celebrate the hospital's founder Charles II. Despite their long history and military based culture, I was surprised that the Chelsea Pensioners don't have any colours (although their is a ceremonial mace that is carried on Founders Day). So I had ago at designing a colour for the hospital:

Its pretty basic, its a gules field with the hospital insignia in the centre (I overlooked the fact their is no Welsh or Irish representation!) The cyphers of Charles II and the current patron of the hospital are counter changed with dates, in the coroners. 1682 is the year the hospital was founded and 2002 was when the Sovereign's Mace was presented. Below the insignia is the date 11.11.11.18 (Hour. Day. Month. Year) the exact time and date WW1 ended and the time and day of the national silence every year.  I wasn't completely satisfied so I changed some things:

My aim here was to make things more simple, I kept one cyher, that of Charles II and moved the time and date of the WW1 armistice to the bottom fly. I changed the field to a brighter scarlet to better reflect the Chelsea Pensioner uniform. (I also put Irish and Welsh representation into the badge ;-) )

here is link to the Chelsea Pensioners website or for their blog click here.

Celtic Nations

These designs are part of an alternate history idea from the flags forum, for a flag of a Union of Celtic Nations. Specifically, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and England, (although it isn't really Celtic). The flag often sold in flag shops as the "Celtic Nations" Flag is rather unimaginative, and in my opinion ugly:

Although the Ancient British Isles and Northern Europe coastline consisted of many different groups of people (Britons, Saxons, Vikings, Romans, Picts etc) the regions represented in the above flag are generally considered to have been overwhelmingly Celtic, although various historians dispute the extent, as this is alternative history, we don't have to worry about any of that. For the interest the regions represented in the above flag are from left to right: Brittany(France) Isle of Mann (UK) Scotland (UK) Ireland (Irish Tricolour in this case representing the island) Cornwall (UK) and Wales (UK).   The trilogy/treskilion being used as an uniting symbol.  

Given the fact that all of the regions (except Brittany) are in the British isles my first design was based on the Union Flag:

Like the Union Flag it is a combination of Crosses for the respective regions. The Crosses in the flag are St Patrick's Saltire (Ireland), St Andrew's Saltire (Scotland), Cross of St George (England, including Cornwall), Cross of St David (Wales) and Kroaz Du(Brittany). Unlike the Union Flag the saltires of Ireland and Scotland are on top of the other crosses as these nations are often regarded as the most Celtic. I also added the treskilion to the centre.

Given the fact that this flag has an awful lot to take in on it, and the fact it has to represent a union of six countries and the fact I forgot about the Isle of Man (I apologise to any Manx readers), I felt a different design was necessary.

This design is also based on a cross, the Celtic Crosses that were erected by early Christians throughout the British Isles (particularly Ireland and Scotland):

Again I have included a central treskilion. Their is no representation of any individual country of region, allowing the flag to be more flexible. The colours don't have any official meaning, but green and blue can be connected to Ireland and Scotland if the individual wishes. To see more designs visits the forum by clicking the link Here.