Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine denounced the neo-Nazis, writing, “There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism or violence.” (abc News)
The governor of Ohio and city officials in Columbus are speaking out after a group of armed, masked individuals marched through the streets of the Ohio capital city Saturday dressed in black and holding flags with swastikas on them.
The unidentified people were spotted around 1 p.m. walking through the Short North neighborhood, according to Columbus ABC affiliate WSYX. Images and videos of the marchers went viral on social media sites. (Read More)
Daniel Jennings moves the colors after starting the incinerator during a flag retirement ceremony at the VFW Post 3173 on Oct. 12, 2024. (Erika Taylor, Voice of OC)
It’s one of the oldest U.S. traditions, folding a flag. But many veterans fear it’s also becoming a lost art form. Here in OC, there’s a host of local vets keeping up the fight.
Flag etiquette – such as when to fold or retire a flag – is falling out of mainstream knowledge, says Daniel Jennings.
“There’s much education that used to be taught about protocol on how we handle our nation’s flag, and it is no longer taught,” said Jennings, who is currently in the U.S. Army Reserves and Sr. Vice Commander at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3173 in Anaheim.
“It is not considered important curriculum, the knowledge base seems to dissipate unless somebody joins the service or something like that.” (Read More)
Outside an American Legion Post hosting the production, members confronted the demonstrators. (American Legion post 141)
Several people in Howell were waving Nazi flags outside of an American Legion Post that was hosting a play production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" Saturday night.
"Some Nazi extremists were out here in the parking lot and they were shouting, believe it or not - 'Anne Frank is a wh***,'" said Bobby Brite, the former post commander.
The Fowlerville Community Theater used the American Legion Devereaux Post 141 for its production about Frank, whose historical diary of hiding from Nazis during World War II.
During the performance, members of the post confronted the demonstrators. (Read More)
The winning design of a flag contest, announced by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, released by the state of Maine, Aug. 5, 2024. (State of Maine/Secretary of State via AP, File)
Mainers were smitten by the state's original flag during the 2020 bicentennial. But the retro flag's popularity wasn't enough to convince voters to make it the state's official flag.
Residents voted Tuesday to retain the existing flag — blue with the state seal — instead of adopting a flag that tracks closely with the state’s original flag — a simple pine tree and blue North Star.
Various designs based on the flag used from 1901 to 1909 gained popularity during the state’s bicentennial in 2020, appearing on hats, sweatshirts and soon license plates, making it an unofficial flag of sorts. (Read More)
The business of city flags in Arkansas is, to put it generously, inconsistent. Cities aren’t required to have them, so plenty of cities — even relatively large ones like Springdale and Jonesboro — have never gone to the trouble of coming up with one because, well, maybe they had better things to do? There also don’t seem to be any rules governing their aesthetics; designs have sprung from the hands of schoolchildren and professionals alike. And, we found, some of the best-looking flags floating around the internet are more aspirational than official. We’ve assembled some of our favorite finds, chosen either because they’re genuinely inspired, kinda goofy or somewhere in between. (Read More)
The future Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John Basilone heads out of Bath, Maine, on Nov. 1, 2024. (General Dynamics Bath Iron Works)
The future USS John Basilone may not have officially joined the Navy’s surface fleet just yet, but the warship is apparently already flying a brand-new battle flag as a tribute to its decorated Marine namesake.
In photos published to social media on Friday, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer is shown sailing down the Kennebec River from the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine, with what appears to be a fresh battle ensign flapping in the wind ahead of its commissioning in New York City next week. (Read More)
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik led a letter with Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Nick Langworthy (R-NY) expressing concern to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan about an influx of companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) falsely labeling their American flags as “Made in the USA” across online retail platforms and urging the FTC to issue complaints and take actions against violators. (Read More)
The elite runners aren’t the only ones at the New York City Marathon that require protection.
On Nov. 3 both the Israeli and Palestinian flags will have an assigned security detail around the Central Park displays.
“Out of an abundance of caution, [race sponsore the NY Road Runners] has assigned security to watch over both the Israeli and Palestinian flags,” the club told The Post. (Read More)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois has received nearly 5,000 submitted designs for a new state flag after announcing a contest earlier this year.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the Illinois Flag Commission had received 4,844 designs during the six-week submission period that ended on October 18th.
“I’m thrilled by the number of submissions the commission has received, as well as the excitement that this project has generated. I can’t wait to see which designs the commission selects for public voting,” Giannoulias said. “The contest has encouraged us all to reflect on what makes us proud to be Illinoisans, resulting in some great stories and unique designs reflecting what our state represents.” (Read More)
Davis UPS driver leaves Trump flags in Harris supporter's lawn (Fox40)
A delivery driver is under investigation by UPS after allegedly leaving small flags in support of Donald Trump’s presidential run on the front lawn of a Davis home that had yard signs in support of Kamala Harris’s campaign.
The homeowner explains that she has a personal reason to support Vice President Harris and is disappointed that someone would not respect her right to express her political views on her property. (Read More)
Booker T. Washington high school senior Jeremiah Treece has lived in Montgomery all his life. And all his life his city’s flag has paid tribute to what he sees as a symbol of hate.
“It definitely makes me feel like I’m not wanted here," Treece expressed.
According to experts on the matter, the flag was designed by then 33-year-old World War II veteran Robert S. Ryan in 1952, after winning a contest sponsored by the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce.
The diagonal blue stripe is reminiscent of the Confederate battle flag, and you can see there’s 11 stars, which is the same number of states in the Confederacy. Also, experts say the grey on the flag pays tribute to the uniforms of Confederate soldiers. (Read More)
In the clip, two staff members came out, and one of them gently pointed out that the white and blue flags represent Greece. (Tik Tok/ambamelia)
A dimwitted anti-Israel TikTokker filmed herself tearing down flags outside a New Jersey restaurant — not realizing they were Greek, rather than similarly colored Israeli ones.
“The time I mistakenly thought the flag for Greek was for Israel and took the restaurant’s flag down OMG,” the woman, who goes by “Ambamelia,” titled her video, which has gone viral with more than 3.2 million views on TikTok and millions more on X since being posted Tuesday. (Read More)
Trump boat parade on Oct 13, 2024. (Lesley Abravanel via X)
A boat bearing swastika symbols and Donald Trump flags was hosed down after trying to join a Trump boat parade in Jupiter, Florida.
The boat was photographed attempting to take part in the parade on Sunday in the Republican presidential candidate's home county of Palm Beach. (Read More)
Austin Lee oversees the raising of the iconic Texas and American flags at the Austin–area speedway as its senior director of campus services. (Jeff Wilson)
"I grew up in San Antonio working on lawn mowers, building fences and decks, doing a little tile work—but nothing like what we do here. I started learning concrete and other trades, and after about two years at Circuit of the Americas, I took over the welding department, then worked my way up to management." (Read More)
A group dressed in all black appeared at Mason Road on Saturday above Interstate 64 holding flags bearing Swastikas in red and black.
The group had their faces covered with masks and held a large sign that read, "America for the white man." Drivers could read the sign from the interstate. (Read More)
Three Japanese flags kept at the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Hawaii have been donated to a group working to return World War Two relics to families of Japanese servicemen.
The flags were entrusted to the memorial at Pearl Harbor by former US servicemen and their families. A ceremony to transfer the flags to the OBON SOCIETY, a US based organization that returns war relics to families, was held at the memorial on Thursday. (Read More)
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (KABC) -- Thousands of flags were placed across Beverly Gardens Park, each representing victims from more than 30 nations who died during the 2023 attack in Israel by Hamas.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and abducting others in an unprecedented surprise attack. (Read More)
Melbourne protest on 29 September against Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon. Some marchers carried Hezbollah flags. (James Ross, AAP)
Victoria police say they have identified six possible criminal incidents relating to weekend protests in Melbourne against Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, after initial suggestions that no offences had been committed.
The AFP confirmed on Monday that it was expecting at least six reports of alleged crimes from their Victorian counterparts involving symbols and chants which are prohibited under federal hate speech law. It also said it would be writing to major news outlets asking for video footage of the protests which could assist in investigations. (Read More)
Two residents of Nashua, N.H., are suing the city for forbidding them from flying the colonial-era “Appeal to Heaven” flag, which government officials deemed to be “not in harmony” with the city’s message, presumably because of its association with the January 6 riot. (Read More)
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Democratic National Convention Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (Brynn Anderson, AP Photo)
Three weeks after Joe Biden won the 2020 election, stories emerged about Americans who decided to fly the Stars and Stripes again. Some had kept their flags folded and stored away during Donald Trump’s presidency, a silent protest against the MAGA pockets of racial hate, violence, intolerance and insurrection poisoning the nation. (Read More)
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A somber tradition continued on Saturday on mountaintops across the Granite State. The event happens each year on or around Sept. 11 to honor those who died during the terrorist attacks. (Read More)
A clip appearing to show Donald Trump signing his name on an American flag has gone viral as people call him out for seemingly violating the U.S. Flag Code.
In a clip posted on X by Patriot Takes, an account that describes itself as promoting "dedicated research monitoring and exposing right-wing extremism and other threats to democracy," the former president can be seen writing what appears to be his signature with a black marker on the fabric. (Read More)
Kerry McCoy in her office with her dog, Coco. (Makenzie Evans)
Among the many things Kerry McCoy is and has accomplished, “patriot” is one of the most significant. As the founder and leader of an enterprise that includes FlagandBanner.com (the brick-and-mortar store of which is Arkansas Flag and Banner), a podcast, a digital magazine, a radio program, a blog and an historic ballroom, this vibrant lady now ponders a future filled with hope … and a rambunctious Yorkipoo, Coco. (Read More)
Sadegh Beit Sayah unfurled a banned flag after winning gold (Picture: X)
An Iranian Paralympic athlete was controversially stripped of his gold medal after unfurling a religious flag following his victory in Paris.
Sadegh Beit Sayah thought he had secured gold in the men’s F41 Javelin final on Saturday when he set a new Paralympic record with a throw of 47.64 meters.
However, the Iranian para-athlete dramatically saw his gold medal removed just moments prior to the medal ceremony having received two yellow cards for two separate incidents during the event. (Read More)
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Franklin resident is asking city leaders to reconsider an ordinance after he received a citation for having too many flags in his front yard.
Duane Charlton has lived on Birchwood Circle for nearly three decades. Currently, he has seven flags posted along his curb, as well as two flag poles that each have two flags.
Charlton said his flags represent are meant to represent his patriotism and support for the military and first responders. (Read More)
ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor has unveiled a new official city flag residents can expect to see flying outside city hall soon.
Mayor Christopher Taylor announced the winner of the city’s flag design contest at the City Council meeting Tuesday night, Sept. 3, joining Ann Arborite Dennis Scherdt in holding up the new blue-and-green banner Scherdt designed. (Read More)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A historic flag that was embroidered by a woman known as 'Utah's Betsy Ross' nearly a century ago is coming back to the state after being displayed regularly and preserved at the Washington Memorial Chapel at Valley Forge Historic Park in Philadelphia. (Read More)
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says the Illinois Flag Commission will start accepting public submissions for a new state flag design beginning Tuesday, September 3. The commission is accepting design ideas from the public – online or via mail – until October 18. The commission also plans to work with schools and local libraries to inform Illinoisans about the process and encourage residents to take part. (Read More)
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble, Getty Images)
Donald Trump has once again argued that people should be jailed for burning the American flag despite the constitution protecting free speech.
"I want to get a law passed. Everyone tells me, oh sure, it's very hard. You burn an American flag, you go to jail for one year. Got to do it, we got to do it. They say, 'Sir, that's not constitutional.' We'll make it constitutional," said Trump during a National Guard address in Detroit on Monday August 26. (Read More)
Patriotic signs waved at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (Melina Mara, The Washington Post)
CHICAGO — Patriotism is cool at this year’s Democratic National Convention.
Delegates wear suits adorned with stars and stripes, dresses with American flag patterns, and blouses featuring bald eagles or the Pledge of Allegiance. As attendees waved red, white and blue signs from their seats and chanted “U-S-A” on Monday night, country musician Mickey Guyton sang: “We got the same stars, the same stripes. Just wanna live that good life. Ain’t we all, ain’t we all American?” (Read More)
The new town flag will soon be seen flying at town buildings and facilities, and a 3-foot by 5-foot version will be made available to the public for purchase shortly for display at homes and businesses. (Town of North Branford)
NORTH BRANFORD, CT - At its Aug. 20 meeting, the North Branford Town Council received the votes cast during the North Branford Potato and Corn Festival, AKA PoCo, to choose a new town.
The choices were between three flags selected from various designs by the Council. The winner by a wide margin was the flag with the town emblem featuring a purple background. (Read More)
Protesters burn a flag near the Israeli Consulate during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. A man tried to stop them from doing it, but ended up walking away. (Alex Brandon, AP Photo)
Pro-Palestinian protesters in Chicago were seen attempting to burn an American flag on Tuesday evening, before a man stepped in to try and stop them.
Hundreds marched in the city's downtown as the second night of the Democratic National Convention was underway a few miles away. After starting at the Israeli Consulate, protesters calling for the U.S. to withdraw its support for Israel in the war in Gaza moved through the streets. (Read More)
Security staff confiscated a "Taiwan" towel from a fan during the men's doubles badminton semi-final last week. (Arun Sankar / AFP via Getty Images)
The table tennis arena was a churning sea of color, with spectators waving the Chinese five stars and the French tricolor. But despite its athletes competing on the floor, one competitor's flag was nowhere to be seen: Taiwan’s.
At Paris 2024, Taiwan’s red and blue flag is banned, as is the name “Taiwan” and its anthem. The island, which is claimed by Beijing, is only one of three competitors whose flag is banned from these Olympics, the others being Russia and Belarus over the invasion of Ukraine. (Read More)
Mathias Lessort, who was born in Martinique, a French territory, was sporting a Martinique flag after winning a silver medal in basketball, but NBC announcer Mike Trico instead said that it was the flag of Palestine. (Mickael Chavet/ZUMA Press Wire)
Sporting your country's flag after winning a medal at the Olympics is arguably the biggest honor an athlete can have. Sometimes, that pride in your flag is misrepresented. (Read More)
Cole Hocker of the United States points to an American flag patch on his chest after winning the gold medal in the men's 1500 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (Martin Meissner, Associated Press )
As soon as an Olympic athlete wins a medal, it’s seemingly obligatory to head to the stands in search of their nation’s flag to wrap around themselves in celebration. (Read More)
Someone holds Minnesota and American flags in front of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's temporary governor's residence in St. Paul, MN, on Tuesday. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) to be her running mate as she seeks the presidency. That led to a flurry of social media disparagements of the newly high-profile governor, including one that burbled up when the new flag was announced: The new Minnesota state flag was somehow meant to evoke Somalia’s, a woke tribute to the state’s large Somali population.
The reality — as is often the case with reality — is more banal and less nefarious. (Read More)
A man holds a Russian flag, as Nigerians protest in Kaduna state, Nigeria August 5, 2024. (Reuters/Stringer)
ABUJA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Nigeria has arrested seven Polish nationals for raising Russian flags during anti-government protests this week in the northern state of Kano, Peter Afunanya, a spokesperson for the state security service, said on Wednesday.
Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting since Aug. 1 against President Bola Tinubu's painful economic reforms that have seen a partial end to petrol and electricity subsidies, currency devaluation and inflation touching three-decade highs. (Read More)
The winning design of the Maine State Flag Redesign Contest. (The Free Press)
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced the winner of the Maine State Flag Redesign Contest – Adam Lemire of Gardiner – on Monday and unveiled his design which was chosen as the model design for the potential new flag. (Read More)
Ellia Collazo holding a black-and-white version of the Puerto Rican flag at the Puerto Rican Festival in Rochester, NY on August 3, 2024. (William Ramsey, Democrat & Chronicle)
At the festival Saturday, more than the traditional flag of Puerto Rico was on display. There were flags from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, the United States and more.
But what does the black-and-white Puerto Rican flag mean?
The most-seen Puerto Rican flag is red, white and blue; however, the black-and-white flag was at the vendor stands at the festival on Parcel 5. One vendor told us it is a universal flag of protest. (Read More)
Smoke rises in the colours of the national flag of France on the Pont d'Austerlitz during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (David Burnett, Getty Images)
At the Olympic Games, the vibrant display of national flags is always a highlight.
With the flags regularly appearing on scoreboards and celebrating throughout the events, it’s easy to spot their similarities, especially with colors like red, white, blue and yellow. (Read More)
The U.S. Flag flies at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 6, 2023. (Mariam Zuhaib, AP)
WASHINGTON, D. C. - President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat, that requires the federal government to buy only American flags completely produced and manufactured in the United States. (Read More)
Protesters are pictured with Palestinian flags outside Union Station, with graffiti reading "Hamas" on the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain, in Washington, D.C. on July 24, 2024. (Andrew Thomas, AFP)
Protesters enraged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress burned U.S. flags and raised Palestinian flags outside Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Netanyahu's visit to Washington on Wednesday has provoked a series of dramatic demonstrations from protesters opposed to Israel's ongoing military assault in Gaza. Earlier in the day, maggots were dumped on a banquet table at Netanyahu's hotel, while fountains around the capital city were dyed blood red.(Read More)
The American flag flies in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Sunday, June 30, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, announced that a bill requiring American flags to be made in America is heading to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.
The All-American Flag Act passed the House of Representatives Monday evening. The bill would require the federal government to only buy American flags completely produced and manufactured in the United States. (Read More)
President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Del., Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
CLAIM: U.S. Capitol flags are flying at half-staff in honor of President Joe Biden, who has died.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The flags are at half-staff in honor of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who died Friday night, according to the office of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Biden is not dead. (Read More)
Streets were lined for dozens of kilometers by Ukrainians welcoming 95 soldiers who returned home on a convoy of buses following a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia on July 17. (Read More)
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. - An Atlanta man allegedly made a nearly three-hour-long trek to South Carolina to lower the Confederate flag that flies over Interstate 85 south. (Read More)
Former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, moments after Trump's ear was grazed by a gunman's bullet. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A startling image of former President Donald J. Trump surviving an assassination attempt on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, has become an instant cultural sensation.
Moments after a bullet struck his ear and missed a fatal headshot by mere millimeters, the former president and now 2024 GOP presidential nominee rose to his feet with blood streaked across his face and raised his fist in defiant triumph beneath an American flag in front of a blue, cloudless sky. (Read More)
The LGBTQ+ pride flag flies beneath the American flag at the Stonewall National Monument, Oct. 11, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A Berlin man is facing accusations that he violated the state’s Civil Rights Act by repeatedly stealing LGBTQ pride flags from a residential property.
On three separate evenings in 2023, 22-year-old Hayden Anderson trespassed onto a property in Berlin and ripped down pride flags, according to court paperwork. He admitted the theft to local police officers, and was arrested last October. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal charges. (Read More)
I'll be flying the U.S. flag this Fourth of July outside my house. This will be my small gesture of celebrating Independence Day and, in a larger sense, a demonstration of my patriotism.
It’s a custom that might be considered a bit out of character for a lifelong Democrat, since significantly fewer members of my party now describe themselves as patriotic. The most recent polling says so, as does my personal experience with left-leaning friends and relatives all across the country. In the past few years, I’ve watched many members of my party shy away from such an overt act of patriotism as flying the flag, out of reluctance or distaste over what associative message that might convey.
As we appreciate the holiday, I urge reconsideration. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that the disaffected claim or reclaim their share of patriotism and demonstrate it publicly, with pride and class. No party or sect should be allowed to claim sole ownership of Old Glory. (Read More)
The Danish government wants restrictions on the use of foreign flags that divert attention from the Dannebrog (Ida Marie Odgaard)
Denmark will introduce a law to restrict the use of foreign flags on its territory, the justice minister said Wednesday.
The Danish flag, the Dannebrog, "is the most important national symbol", Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said in a statement, adding that "the flags of other countries cannot be freely flown".
Hummelgaard said foreign flags would not be banned, and could be used for sporting, demonstrations and other events. (Read More)
Illinois bill could make it a felony to fly American flag upside down (WQRF Rockford)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new Illinois bill would make it a felony for government officials to knowingly fly an American flag upside down on government property.
Illinois State Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) formally introduced HB 5860 on June 11.
The bill would amend Illinois’ Flag Display Act and prohibit officials from knowingly displaying or causing to display “the United States national flag with the union down on government property.” (Read More)
Flying the flag upside down has been debated since it was reported that an upside-down flag flew outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's home. (Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - The veteran organization the American Legion weighed in on the upside-down American flag controversy on Thursday, noting that flags should only be flown this way if there is "extreme danger to life or property."
The potential implications of flying an American flag upside down have been the subject of debate since reports emerged that an upside-down flag flew outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's home in early 2021. The justice said the flag was raised by his wife, Martha-Ann. (Read More)
Mississippi National Day of Prayer attendees raise a “Appeal to Heaven” flag in lieu of the Mississippi State flag at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, May 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Mainers are going to decide in November whether to adopt a new flag, but the state needs to settle on a design first.
Anyone can submit a design proposal as long as it's based on the state's original flag, which featured a simple pine tree and blue star against an off-white background. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced the flag contest Friday. The deadline is July 19. (Read More)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Most people know a lot about Independence Day, but what about the other patriotic holiday in the summer?
Flag Day.
According to Flag and Banner Marketing Assistant Gray McCoy, the holiday commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777, and is one of the year's biggest days. (Read More)
The original restored Star Spangled Banner is located at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. (National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution Archives)
The American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore in September 1814 had 15 stars and 15 stripes, each representing a state in the still-fledgling United States. During a battle with the British as part of the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and poet from Frederick, Md., watched as the American forces secured victory. He was inspired by the battle and the flag to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner," which eventually would become the national anthem. (Read More)
Conservative editorial magazine National Review is facing backlash online for selling flags honoring embattled Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
According to the magazine, one flag is loosely based on the "Appeal to Heaven" flag commissioned by George Washington during the American Revolution. The other is based on the Bennington battle flag, a banner associated with a revolutionary battle that took place in Vermont in 1777. (Read More)
Colorado GOP calls for burning of Pride flags (ABC News / Mola Lenghi)
The Colorado GOP is being criticized for an inflammatory email with the subject line "God Hates Pride" and a video titled “God Hates Flags” that demonizes Pride Month and portrays the LGBTQ community with longstanding false tropes.
The email, sent by the group on Monday, suggests that the LGBTQ community is "godless" and aims to "harm our children," mimicking claims about the community that advocates have called dangerous. (Read More)
The artist Edwin Brewer was best known for his landscapes and still lifes painted in watercolor or oils. Art was a family pursuit: He and and his twin brother, Adrian, who were born Jan. 9, 1927, in Little Rock, and were the sons of Adrian Sr., and grandsons of Nicholas Richard Brewer, were both renowned artists.
Along with being a working artist, Edwin taught art at Little Rock University, now known as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and other schools.
He was the first curator of the Arkansas Arts Center Artmobile and a founding member of the Mid-Southern Watercolorists, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. He and his wife moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., in the late 1970s to be near their daughters, and Edwin was an active member of the art community there. He died of heart failure on Dec. 14, 2002. (Read More)
An American flag is seen upside down at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., on Friday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)
After former President Donald Trump’s historic felony conviction, many of his supporters protested the verdict by posting images of an American flag flipped upside down on social media.
A Manhattan jury on Thursday found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in order to influence the 2016 presidential election. Soon after the verdict was read, right-wing politicians and pundits including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Fox News contributor Guy Benson, and far-right conspiracy theorist Ali Alexander shared images of an inverted American flag on social media. (Read More)
Flags outside San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, Calif.(bluejayphoto/iStock/Getty Images)
San Francisco officials removed a colonial-era “Appeal to Heaven” flag from the city’s Civic Center Plaza over the weekend, as Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito finds himself in hot water due to the flag’s association with the January 6 riot. (Read More)
Security guards Gregory Winfrey, left, and Benedicto Barnachea raise the Progress Pride Flag over the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in June 2023. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
A longtime Los Angeles County lifeguard stationed in Pacific Palisades near a stretch beloved by gay beachgoers is suing the county for requiring him to work feet away from a Pride flag last summer and punishing him for taking three of the flags down.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court May 24 a week before this year’s Pride month kicks off, brings the county’s sparkling coastline squarely into the nation’s culture wars. (Read More)
The entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve. (Jan Rychetsky / CTK via Associated Press)
The National Park Service said Sunday it never ordered the removal of the American flag from vehicles involved with a construction project inside Denali National Park and Preserve despite reports circulated by right-wing media and amplified by Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.
The Alaska Watchman, a conservative site, reported last week that workers involved in building a bridge inside the park were “recently told that they could no longer fly the American flag from their trucks or heavy equipment.” (Read More)
Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. (Gabrielle Minion)
On Beyoncé’s latest album, Cowboy Carter, the singer-songwriter opens her song “Ya Ya” by welcoming listeners to the rodeo chitlin’ circuit. She also referenced the circuit in her pre-launch album marketing.
It made many listeners want to learn more about the chitlin’ circuit. (Read More)
An inverted flag flying at the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in Alexandria, Va., on Jan. 17, 2021, three days before the Biden inauguration. (The New York Times)
After the 2020 presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Joe Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American flag.
One of the homes flying an inverted flag during that time was the residence of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, in Alexandria, Virginia, according to photographs and interviews with neighbors. (Read More)
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Eurovision song contest continued to spawn unprecedented controversy, days after the winner was crowned, with the 27-nation European Union lambasting organizers for their “incoherence” in banning its flag from the concert hall during the final.
In an unusually sharp letter, EU Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas wrote to the organizer, the Swiss-based European Broadcast Union, that its ban contributes to "discrediting a symbol that brings together all Europeans.” (Read More)
Feather flags banned for Cape Coral businesses (NBC2, WBBH-TV)
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — You might've noticed feather flags hanging outside of businesses in Southwest Florida before.
Many business owners use them to advertise and bring in potential customers. However, business owners in Cape Coral are not allowed to have feather flags because it goes against city code.
Hannah Johnson owns Simply Golden Boutique in downtown Cape Coral along SE 47th Terrace. She said as a new small business owner, marketing is crucial. Back in December, she decided to invest in a feather flag to promote her shop. It wasn't long before the city forced her to take it down. (Read More)
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota officially adopted its new state flag on Saturday, making the old flag history. So what happens to the old flag now that it is obsolete?
The old flag, which the Minnesota Legislature adopted in 1957, will no longer fly on any official government building.
Before the new flag was raised at sunrise, the outgoing state flags were retired by the Minnesota National Guard. (Read More)
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A recently founded Northeast Ohio non-profit is on a mission to create and commission a new flag that best represents the city of Cleveland.
The CLE Flag Project is encouraging residents to submit their best designs and participate in a contest that will ultimately help determine what the city's new flag should look like.
The public will vote on the final three best designs. (Read More)
Police arrest protesters during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at The City College Of New York (Spencer Platt/TNS)
NEW YORK — Cops including two high-ranking NYPD officials pulled down and tossed away a Palestinian flag and proudly hoisted an American flag after evicting protesters encamped at City College in Harlem, video posted by the department shows.
Kaz Daughtry, the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner for Operations, posted the video early Wednesday. (Read More)
A post shared on social media purports that Harvard University replaced the American flag with the Palestinian flag.
Verdict: Misleading
The flag was raised by protesters at the campus and was not sanctioned by the school administration.
Fact Check:
Hundreds of student protesters have been arrested on campuses across the country, some schools have said they will allow protests and not encampments, NBC News reported. George Washington University announced that students that remain at an encampment would be temporarily suspended while the University of Southern California claims a group is there illegally.(Read More)
WASHINGTON, DC: Democrat lawmakers proudly waved the Ukrainian flag in the US House of Representatives following the approval of $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine on Saturday, April 20, after months of stalling.
No sooner, GOP Congresswoman Kat Cammack jumped on X (formerly Twitter) to share that her team is curating a new law that would obstruct any foreign flags from being hoisted inside the House. (Read More)
Protesters set US flags on fire during Monday’s day of unrest (Katie Smith/Storyful)
Anti-Israel protesters in Manhattan waved the yellow-and-green banner of Hezbollah and proclaimed their “love” for the Iran-backed terrorist organization – as others set US flags on fire and chanted “death to America” during Monday’s day of unrest.
Videos taken during the downtown protest show at least one masked activist proudly displaying Hezbollah’s flag emblazoned with the image of an assault rifle and the words: “The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.” (Read More)
Dan Millard, a Lowe's employee, hangs a POW flag at the Lowe's store in Trevose, Pa. during a POW flag dedication on Friday, Apr 5, 2024. (Jose F. Moreno/Inquirer)
When it seemed like the country was forgetting those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, Alan J. Micklin, 83, took up a one-man mission: to make sure that the National League of Families POW/MIA flag would fly wherever and whenever the U.S. flag flew.
The Bensalem man had the law on his side. In 1990, Congress designated the POW/MIA flag as our country’s symbol of concern for POWs and MIAs in Southeast Asia. Since 2019, the National POW/MIA Flag Act required the flag to be displayed beneath the American flag at prominent federal properties.
A thin red line flag (Wikimedia Commons) and a New York City Fire Department badge photo (SBG file)
NEW YORK CITY (TND) — The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) restored a local department’s “red line” American flag after its forced removal sparked backlash, the New York Post reported.
The flag, a black and white American flag with a single red stripe, was reportedly intended to honor six members of FDNY Ladder Company 11 who died on 9/11. It was displayed on one of the company’s trucks.
A man, who claimed to work for Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, D-District 2, first confronted firefighters over the flag on March 22 and claimed it was a “fascist symbol," according to the New York Post. A staffer from Councilmember Rivera’s office reportedly later contacted FDNY via email to report a "constituent" who had repeatedly complained about the flag.
“[FDNY staff] claimed [the flag] was to honor deceased firefighters, however, [the constituent] brought up that they could’ve used an FDNY flag rather than a politically charged symbol,” the staffer reportedly wrote. (Read More)
The flag maker released an alternative version of the Stars and Stripes, using the same colour palette as Nike had for the St George's Cross (BBC News)
A UK flag maker has created its own version of the US flag in response to Nike's colourful interpretation of the St George's Cross on England's new kit.
A row over the 2024 home kit erupted on Thursday, with politicians and sports figures weighing in on the topic.
Nike said its design was to celebrate the 1966 World Cup team, adding it was "never our intention to offend".
Lincolnshire-based Newton Newton Flags Ltd suggested Nike leave "the flags to us" and stick to ticks on plimsolls.
Manufacturer Nike has changed the cross of St George, with its horizontal bar now a combination of blues and purples rather than the red of the original flag. (Read More)
A symbol of unity and inclusiveness adorns the front of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin on June 28, 2023. (Presscov/Michael Kuenne)
The bipartisan measure to avert a government shutdown includes a provision that would effectively ban LGBTQ Pride flags from flying over U.S. embassies.
Although the $1.2 trillion, 1,012-page-package does not explicitly mention barring Pride flags from flying at U.S. embassies, its text embraces a Republican-led effort to prohibit the display of the LGBTQ Pride flag at government buildings.
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended to fly or display a flag over a facility of the United States Department of State” other than the U.S. flag, the POW/MIA flag, the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag, flag of a state, flag of an Indian Tribal government, official branded flag of a U.S. agency or the sovereign flag of other countries, the text reads.
The provision does not address the display of these flags in other locations, such as on embassy grounds or in offices, a source familiar told NBC News. (Read More)
Blue flags outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (WTOP/Luke Lukert)
If you head down to the National Mall in D.C. over the next two weeks you’ll see 27,400 blue flags placed in front of the U.S. Capitol.
They represent the number of Americans under 50 who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year.
“I should be at home with a husband that should still be on this earth,” Simone Ledward Boseman told the crowd Tuesday morning at the United in Blue rally.
Her husband, Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, died from colorectal cancer at the age of 43.
“It makes me angry that a disease so treatable took him from me, when all we needed to start out with was knowledge,” she said. (Read More)
Avenue of Flags with Mount Rushmore in the background
The park will make two changes to the iconic Avenue of Flags in 2024. Utah and Minnesota legislatures have both passed legislation changing their respective state flag designs. The new Utah flag was installed on March 9, while Minnesota’s will be installed May 11. Utah’s new flag will centrally feature a beehive. Minnesota’s will have colors representing the shape of the state and the numerous lakes which comprise that state. (Read More)
Sweden’s flag was placed outside NATO headquarters in Belgium on Monday as the military alliance’s flag was raised in Stockholm to mark the country’s accession to the bloc.
BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden’s flag was raised at NATO headquarters on Monday, cementing the Nordic country’s place as the 32nd member two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine persuaded its reluctant public to seek safety under the alliance’s security umbrella.
Under a steady rain, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess Victoria and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg looked on as two soldiers raised the blue banner emblazoned with a yellow cross among the official circle of national flags at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.
“The Russian, brutal, full-scale invasion against Ukraine united Sweden behind the conclusion that a full-fledged NATO membership is the only reasonable choice,” Kristersson said. Swedish government ministers and party leaders from across the political spectrum attended in a show of national unity. (Read More)
SALT LAKE CITY — While it has flown over the state for months, Utah's new emblem of pride became the official state flag during a ceremony Saturday.
Gov. Spencer Cox and other dignitaries were on hand as the new flag was unfurled on the steps of the Utah State Capitol.
"I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish over the past few years, and I'm proud of the people who helped make it happen," said the governor during the ceremony. "I love this state, I love her people and I want to congratulate her people on their new flag. (Read More)
Demonstrators display LGBTQ+ and trans pride flags at the State Capitol on Feb. 12. (Ben Hovland, MPR News)
Minnesota schools, colleges and local governments would be barred from removing rainbow pride flags, banners or posters under a bill moving through the state Legislature.
The proposal advanced through the House Local Government Finance and Policy Committee on Tuesday and is set to move to a full floor vote after LGBTQ+ advocates said it would provide support for the community. GOP lawmakers said it was an overstep.
“The bill does not require anyone to display rainbows, nor does it supersede policies that prohibit the display of all banners, flags or posters,” said bill author Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul. “It just prohibits rainbows from being singled out and banned in schools, libraries and other government spaces.” (Read More)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Nothing shows off American pride like a U.S. flag, hoisted high in the sky. There is a rich history behind our country's flag, as well as the State of Arkansas’s flag.
Along with the history comes instructions on how to properly display the flags. So is there a wrong time or way to do it, like during a thunderstorm for example?
We consulted the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, longtime veterans group the American Legion, and Flag and Banner, a flag maker in Little Rock to find out. (Read More)
Trans rights activists march past the state capitol during a news conference by the Human Rights Campaign drawing attention to anti-drag bills in the Tennessee legislature, on Feb. 14, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (John Amis)
Tennessee’s Republican-controlled House voted Monday to approve legislation that would largely prevent pride flags from being displayed in public school classrooms, sending the measure to the state Senate, where it is also expected to pass.
The measure, House Bill 1605, would prohibit local education agencies from displaying flags other than the United States flag and the Tennessee state flag in public schools. It would allow schools to display the POW/MIA flag, a flag that represents a city or metropolitan government or an official school flag, among other exceptions.
While the bill does not mention LGBTQ pride flags outright, GOP state lawmakers have said it is meant to restrict them. (Read More)
ANTIOCH — A U.S. flag neatly folded and encased in the military room of this city’s museum ended up there because, as the story went, it was draped around an Army soldier as he climbed on a helicopter from atop the U.S. Embassy in Saigon.
He was among the last American troops to leave Vietnam, he said, and brought the flag that kept him company during combat home with him.
...
But the flag will now be removed from the wing of the museum where other decorated Antioch soldiers’ keepsakes are on display after records show it was probably never in Vietnam — and neither was the man who claimed to carry it. (Read More)
Dancing into Dreamland 2024 is a dance competition and Dreamland Ballroom’s biggest fundraiser of the year hosted by the Friends of Dreamland(FOD), a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the historic ballroom to its former glory. (Read More)
NASHVILLE - A group of masked demonstrators wearing red T-shirts flew flags marked with swastikas outside the Tennessee Capitol building in Nashville on Saturday.
State Rep. Justin Pearson posted the video showing the disturbing incident of the group wearing red shirts and black balaclavas standing on a raised hill. Some of them carried flags bearing the Nazi swastika.
"Disgusted that Nazis are comfortable doing this," Pearson wrote on social media. (Read More)
Proposed Florida bill would ban displaying certain flags at government and school buildings.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday supported a proposal that would restrict what flags can be flown at schools and other public buildings, as critics of the bill — and Senate analysts — questioned prohibiting flags that represent a “political viewpoint.”
The bill (SB 1120), however, stalled, in a Senate committee hours after the governor backed it.
Under the bill, government agencies, public schools, colleges and universities would be prohibited from flying any flag that “represents a political viewpoint” including any “politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender, or political ideology viewpoint.”
Debate has focused heavily on the potential that it could bar LGBTQ pride flags at public buildings.
Answering questions from reporters, DeSantis said he had not seen the bill but signaled that he would back it. (Read More)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Not all heroes wear capes; some wear hard hats and wave flags.
Then, there's the superhero who buries a flag in enemy territory, planting it deeper than the hatred for their nemesis.
Gerard DeCosta is somewhere in between.
The construction worker and lifelong Chiefs fan told me he helped build Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, all while showing his allegiance to Chiefs Kingdom.
"I got a text from my dispatch telling me they were going to send me out to the job site," DeCosta said. "I went, 'Oh my God, I've got to take advantage of this.'" (Read More)
A picture allegedly hung up in a Riverdale High School classroom, which Lee County GOP says violates the Stop Woke Act. (Photo provided by Michael Thompson)
A flag hanging in a Fort Myers classroom violates the Stop Woke Act and promotes "woke indoctrination," the Lee GOP claims and is planning a protest at an upcoming Lee County School Board meeting.
"The issue at hand is that the district needs to get out of having any type of political influence on our children," said Michael Thompson, the chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee.
The flag, which Thompson says is hung in a Riverdale High School classroom bulletin board in Fort Myers, spells out "Hate Has No Home Here" and is covered in hearts that contain the American flag, a peace symbol, the words Black Lives Matter, and the LGBTQ+ and Trans flags. (Read More)
Dozens of people rallied outside of town hall in Enfield to speak out against a new policy enacted by the town council that bans all flags from flying on town-owned property, aside from the American flag, Connecticut state flag and military flags.
The policy was approved by the newly-elected Republican majority, and overrides a 2022 proclamation by the former administration that designated June as Pride Month in Enfield, making it so the Pride flag flew at town hall for the entire month. (Read More)
A civil peace flag flies at half-staff at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Columbus. The flag is not recognized by the U.S. Government but is believed by some anti-government groups to be the real national flag as opposed to the Star-Spangled Banner. (Photo by Emma McRae/Dispatch Staff)
If you’ve found yourself driving down South Frontage Road in Columbus, you may have noticed an unusual flag flying half-staff at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery. With a quick glance, the flag is easily mistaken for the national flag, but a closer look shows 13 vertical stripes with blue-on-white stars in the canton rather than the horizontal stripes with white-on-blue stars that make Old Glory distinct. What is this flag and where did it come from? (Read More)
Kerry McCoy’s story is destined for the pages of a bestseller, if not the silver screen.
Hers is the story of a girl from North Little Rock who rolled up her sleeves and bet her life savings — all $400 of it — on a dream. The story begins with a recently graduated but out-of-work fashion merchandiser and ends with an e-commerce giant. McCoy described her journey as an American dream, but as matter-of-factly as one might describe a typical workday. (Read More)
This Minnesota State Flag, central in the Glockenspiel line of flags, is going to stay there until further notice. City Finance Director Nicole Jorgensen said they have not received any direction from the state on what to do. (The Journal)
NEW ULM — The old state flags aren’t going anywhere soon.
A new Minnesota flag was unveiled on Dec. 19. It was the sole survivor of a competition where thousands of Minnesotans submitted designs. The design submitted by Andrew Prekker of Luverne was chosen — a dark and light blue flag with a white star.
In New Ulm, flags around the city still fly the old colors and art in the center. City Finance Director Nicole Jorgensen said they have not received direction from the state on the new flag since it was announced to the press. (Read More)
Rep. Tim McGough, a Republican from Merrimack, wants to add "Live Free or Die" to the current state flag. (Rep. Tim McGough)
A group of state lawmakers have unfurled a proposal to change New Hampshire’s official state flag: They want to add the phrase “Live Free or Die,” which would be the first update to the flag’s design in more than 90 years.
The bill, HB 1016, seeks to print the famous words of General John Stark from 1809 — now the state motto — beneath the current state seal.
“It's time,” said the bill’s lead sponsor Rep. Tim McGough, a Republican from Merrimack. He said the current flag doesn’t inspire residents or visitors to the state and doesn’t stand out from other state flags with similar designs. (Read More)
Government entities in Florida might be barred from flying or displaying a Pride flag on its premises under a "don’t display gay" bill introduced by a conservative Republican for the upcoming 2024 legislative session.
Earlier this week Florida State Rep. David Borrero filed HB 901, which would prevent certain government buildings, including public schools, from displaying any form of the Pride flag. (Read More)
MINNEAPOLIS — The panel tasked with replacing key state symbols finalized the new flag on Tuesday after four months of discussion and several spirited debates.
The State Emblems Redesign Commission overwhelmingly approved the new design after making tweaks to the final concept it chose from over 2,000 submissions from the public. It includes two motifs that prevailed across many designs and throughout their process of eliminating ideas to get to a finalist: a star, which is a nod to the state's motto "The Star of the North" and blue to symbolize Minnesota's vast and distinct waterways. (Read More)
Posted December 21, 2023
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