Donated by
NAVA
R. Gauron 1988
NEWS
THE NORTH AMERICAN VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Vol. IV
No. 4
EDITOR Newton v. Blakeslee 1145 17th Street N.W. Washington, D. C. 20036
REPORT ON THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
Washington, D.C.
August, 1971 CIRCULATION MANAGER William C. Spangler c/o Dettra Flag Co., Inc. Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
It's allover nov, the Fourth International Congress of Vexillology at Turin, Italy, but for some 70 delegates from 16 countries there remain happy memories and a warm feeling of pleasure about what all agreed was the best-organized, most interest-ing, and most enjoyable international congress to date.
Delegates, some with spouses, started arriving in Turin on the afternoon of June 23rd, the day before the congress opened. Those who had crossed the Atlantic and had already lost five hours due to crossing time zones discovered they had just lost another hour on enterning Italy. (This vas all made up on returning home.) After getting settled in various hotels, dinner and pre-congress socializing took place. The Accademia di San ~~rciano, host to the Congress, had provided a beautiful new auditorium for the exclusive use of the delegates. Air-conditioned and with comfortable seats, it had ear-phones for all and simultaneous·translation of all speeches and lectures into four languages. The following members of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations were represented at the Congress: Association Frangaise d'Etudes Internationales Vexillologiques, France Accademia di San Marciano, Sezione Vessillologica, Italy Flag Plaza Foundation, U.S.A. Flag Research Center, U.S.A. Flag Section, Heraldry Society, Great Britain North American Vexillological Association, U.S.A. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Vlaggenkunde, Netherlands Office Genealogique et H6raldique de Belgique, Belgium Stichting voor Banistiek en Heraldiek, Netherlands Societe Suisse de Vexillologie, Switzerland Wappen-Herold, Deutsche Heraldische Gesellschaft, Germany The Flag Institute, Chester, Great Britain NAVA members attending the Congress were: Whitney Smith (President), Kenneth Huff (Recording Secretary), Newton Blakeslee, Harold Diceman, Capt. E. M. C. Barraclough, Roger Lachenal and Roland Reitter. Mrs. Blakeslee, Mrs. Diceman, Mrs. Reitter and Mrs. Lachenal were also in attendance. First on the program was the Federation business meeting. (Full details vill be published in the Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of Vexi.llology, to be printed and distributed at a later date.)
NAVA News
Page 2.
August,
1971~· ~.
Considerable discussion was devoted to the possibility of schedul;J.ng the next International Congress to coincide with the "off seaBon" for tourists, so that those delegates traveling a long distance could take advantage of the lower fares. In this way, it was felt, more members would be able to attend. It was voted to accept the invitation of The Flag Institute of Chester, England, to hold the next International Congress in England in 1973. The following papers and illustrated lectures were presented during the four days of the Congress: "The ancient flagbooks of the Biblioteca Reale and the State Archives of Turin," by Mr. Aldo Ziggioto. "Insignia and flags of ancient Egypt and the Orient," by Prof. Silvio Curto. "The History of the Imperial Eagle from the beginning to the end of empire in Europe," by Prof. J. Patrocinio de Souza. "The Flag in Advertising," by Dr. Whitney Smith. "The Competition for the creation of a symbol and a flag for the Nordic Council" by Dr. C. Gunnar Scheffer. "The origin of national colors," by Dr. Gunter Mattern. "The flags and uniforms of the Marine Regiment of the 18th century," by Mr. ErnestoChiappa. "The first traces of the use of flags in medieval Friesland," by Mr. Klaes Sierksma. "Turin, its own symbols and flags," by Mr. Aldo Ziggioto. "National flags on postcards, 1914 - 1918, by H.C.Kemp (read by Mr. Sierksma). "The flags of some Indian principalities," by Mr. Lucien Philippe. "The development of Civic Flags in the United Kingdom," by Mr. William G. Crampton. "Two Flags. A methodology. A restoration," by Mr. Paolo E. Fiora. "The national maritime flags of the 17th century, after the manuscript of J. Mouton," by Mr. Louis Muhlemann. "The supporting banners of German bishops and their significance for heraldry," by Mr. Hans Horstmann. "General classification of flags according to their type," by Mr. Georges Pasch. "Explanation of the origin of a painted wooden box of the 13th century in the. Kunstgewerbemuseum of Berlin, with the aid of little lance-banners," by Dr. Ottfried Neubecker. The work sessions of the Congress were interspersed with several social events, including a reception, sightseeing trips, two special luncheons and a party. Two chartered buses had been engaged to transport delegates to and from their hotels and on trips out of the city. At Pessione, a half-hour's drive into the country, delegates were treated to a seven-course luncheon at the Martini and Rossi factory, followed by a tour of the bottling plant and museum, and liberal samples of the com~y's products. At Aramengo an out-door party "Piedmont Style" was provided, featuring wine drawn directly from casks on a farm wagon. At Stupinigi the final dinner took place in a luxurious dining room overlooking a pond with graceful swans gliding around, followed by an exhibition by the colorful Sbandieratori (flag-tossers) at the hunting lodge. Appreciation was expressed to Dr. Raffaele Natta-Soleri and his committee for their excellent work in organizing the Congress. --N. V.B;
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NAVA News
August, 1971
Page .3.
THE PEACE SYMBOL by
John R. B. Szala
United States "peaae flag" (a popular version)
Recently the principal of a parochial school in Pittsburgh forbade the children to wear the peace symbol on their person or attached to clothing or books and materials brought to school while the commanding officers of the, naval air station in the Pensacola complex issued a statement that says in part, "The peace symbol is an instrument of the Marxists and is both Communistic and anti-religious and will not be tolerated on board naval air stations in the Pensacola complex." The two examples cited of open hostili -ty to a highly popular insignia representing man's highest aspiration are not isolated cases.
Vexillologists are well aware that symbols have always meant different things to different people and the meaning ascribed to a particular symbol changes with culture, just as language changes. An example of this is the ancient swastika adopted by Hitler's government in Germany - a symbol whose history predates the Nazi Party by centuries. Social living necessitates the need to get ideas across by the fastest, easiest means, and so naturally signs have become a popular means of communication. Some of these signs leave us in no doubt as to what they mean. Others, however, are vague and open to several interpretations. One such contemporary sign is the "peace symbol." The peace symbol has been displayed world. It appears on jewelry, clothing, the canton of the United States flag has flag desecration suits in both large and
in many forms in practically every nation of the buttons, posters, and flags. Its appearance on resulted in' arrests and court cases involving small towns of the nation.
Much speculation abounds as to the symbol's true meaning and origin. Some see it as a subtle sign of those who are opposed to Christianity while others see it as nothing less than a pro-Communist mark of atheism. Its supporters say that it means "peace," particularly in Vietnam. It has been profusedly used at rallies protesting United States involvement in Southeast Asian affairs. The symbol's modern popularity began with the first Ban-the-Bomb March held at Aldermaston, England at Easter in 1958. A prominent leader of this rally was the controversial philosopher, Bertrand Russell. His support of the emblem has served to alienate the religious element who espouse the cause of peace, but are reluctant to promulgate a symbol sanctioned by an atheist. The symbol was designed by an artist friend of Russell's, that the emblem represented the composite semaphore (flag) signal for "Nuclear Disarmament." He said later the form of his symbol "was -the elemental life-shape of man with palms out-stretched downward, a product of despair at the realization that the 'Christian' organizations were unopposed to the manufacture of the H-bomb."
Gerald Holtom, who said
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NAVA News
Page 4.
August,· ,1971 .
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Virtually all anti-peace symbol literature is based on page 83 of The Book of Signs by Rudolf Koch, a specialist in graphic arts. The symbol's opponents are quick to point out that this sign was used as an insignia for Satan in Medieval times and was known by various names - witch's foot, craw's foot, goblin's foot, and Nero's cross. The latter was the Roman emperor under whom the Apostle Peter was put to death on an upside down cross. It was used to brand Jews on the forehead or arm to indicate that they were not true believers and it was painted over the doors of those who were condemned to death. It was also engraved on tombstones to indicate the burial place of evil spirits or of those believed to be witches or warlocks. The sordid tales surrounding the emblem are endless. It is interesting to note that Dr. Koch never termed the symbol anti-Christian or evil. Historically, it was a simple house and holding mark - a way for the illiterate peasants of the Dark Ages to mark thp;r nosRessions. Page 83 is reproduced in total to show that the author never looked upon this sign as Satanic,
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,!'I)e Simplest form of I)ouee. math is flJe ont (omposeb of nllta,e8, Qnb in mllet of ti}eee straigl)t lints prebominatl!. ((urtlee Wert brought into ust mud) latrr, (lnil l'reeul'Pose Il bitfettnt mtt~ob' from t~at ~f snipping anb (arbing, mort in /' t~ul(ltureofl'ainting orwdting,.: t~e wolfq toot~, Ol! l}aIlGtf
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The book contains hundreds of other signs which could be put together to draw any sort of conclusion. Some have done exactly that and have come up with the following explanation: the vertical stroke represents salvation descending from above and spreading over the world below (vertical fork). William L. Schuyler, Jr" U.S. Commissioner of Patents, has rejected all applications to register as a trademark the symbol. Thus, it will, no doubt, contin~e to be used by militant and non-militant organizations and remain an enigma to countless thousands for many years.
NAV! New
Page 5.
August, 1971
NEWS ON THE DICTIONARY FRONT
NAVA members are referred to the issue of NAVA Nevs, Vol. I, No.3, page 3, and the resolution passed at the 1967 NAVA Annual Meeting. With this in mind, the following letter from G.& C. Merriam Company, publishers of Merriam-Webster Dictionaries, will be of interest: May 11, 1971 "Mr. 'William S. Jarrett, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 425 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60611. Dear Bill: Thank you for your letter of May 7 and the enclosed information on vexillology. I'm glad to be able to tell you that we're entering the word and two of its derivatives in the 1971 Addenda of Webster's Third New International Dictionary, and that means that it has a pretty good chance of making the Eighth Collegiate. Cordially yours, H. B. Woolf, Editorial Director, Dictionaries." 1971 NAVA ANNUAL MEETING
Every year in October, when summer vacations are far behind, NAVA offers its members an opportunity to visit a new city and meet old friends. This year for the first time the Annual Meeting of the Association will be held in Canada. Be sure to mark the dates of the meeting--October 23 and 24, 1971--on your calendar.
The program will include the usual lectures and exhibits on every aspect of flags. If you have an area you would like to speak about, or a collection you would like to bring with you and put on exhibit, please contact NAVA President Dr. Whitney Smith. Past experience has shown that each member has something of interest and value to contribute, and the Annual Meeting is an excellent place to prove this. The actual site of the meeting will be in the National Archives Building in the Canadian federal capital, Ottawa, Ontario. Harold Diceroan, vho served as one of NAVA 1 s delegates to the recent Fourth International Congress of Vexillology, is organizing the program. There will be a tour of the city, but Inembers are advised to leave an extra day or two to see all the places of interest. These include the Parliament Buildings, National Gallery, National Art Centre, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian ~ar Museum, the National Aeronautical Collection, and many, many other attractions. Members interested in heraldry will be pleased to learn that the Heraldry Society of Canada is holding its annual meeting at the same time, and members of the two associations will be dining together Saturday night. Just prior to the meeting a formal agenda of the business to be transacted by NAVA will be sent to each member. If you have any motions or suggestions, please send them to Dr. Smith. Also, please detach and mail the form below indicating your intention to attend the meeting. This will help our Program Committee. In return, you will receive tourist brochures telling you hov to get to Ottawa, hotels available, and sights to see. Do it now before you forget!
Mr. Harold A. Di ceman , 4 Ridgeburn Gate, Ottawa 15, Ontario, Canada:
I expect to be attending the 1971 NAVA Annual Meeting in Ottawa, Oct. 23 ,and 24, 1971. Please send me information about the city. I have listed below my name and address the names of any other people who will be with me.
