History Lessons

Small places with great flags

San Marino's flag with coat of arms.

Mighty countries have famous flags, but some of the smallest places in the world have interesting flags with unusual features. Gibraltar, San Marino and Malta are examples. GIBRALTAR Gibraltar is known for its famous rock and its position as a guardian to the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea. Owned by Great Britain, the city has… continue

History Lessons

Three people who loved the American flag

Poster for Yankee Doodle Dandy

An Academy Award-winning actor, an obscure seamstress and a dental professor shared something in common: a deep love of the American flag. The actor was James Cagney, who won an Oscar for “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” the film biography of George M. Cohan, the composer known for his patriotic songs and flag-waving Broadway plays. As a… continue

Flag Information

Heraldry and Flags in a Game of Thrones

Stannis Baratheon

You’ve probably heard of Game of Thrones. If you haven’t, it’s a cultural phenomena that has reached almost unparalleled heights, with a highly anticipated new season of the HBO series starting in July, four new HBO spin offs in the works, and a long awaited sixth book being written (albeit painfully slowly). Whether you’re an… continue

Flag Information

The first U.S. warship to carry the flag

USS Ranger receives the first recognition of the American flag by a foreign government on February 14, 1778; Quiberon Bay, France.

July 4th. It’s a familiar date. It’s when we celebrate the beginning of our independence as a country. It’s a date that has come to signify freedom, ‘the American way,’ hot dogs, fireworks, and quality time with friends and family. More than anything, it’s a date that offers us a chance to reflect on the… continue

History Lessons

A flag speaks about patriotism

Small flags cover the Mall in Washington, D.C. (wikipedia.org)

On Flag Day more than 100 years ago, Franklin K. Lane, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, delivered a stirring address about the American flag to more than 1,000 of his employees. His words are even more patriotic when his birthplace is considered: Prince Edward Island. At the time, that made him a British citizen (the… continue