F	L	A	G	S

(F-L-A-G-S in both semaphore and International Code of Signals Flags)

David's Flag Collection

Welcome to a new section of coasterville where I show off my flag collection.  I have had an interest in flags for some time and have been collecting them for the last couple years.  Below are the highlights of what I have:

American Flags

	United States flag in front of my house (Annin Nyl-Glo)
	United States flag in my home office (Valley Forge "Indoor/Parade" model with gold fringe)		United States flag that was flown over the US Capitol. It's a cotton flag and has a certificate from the architect of the Capitol
	Self Waving United States flag - press the button on the base and the flag waves and it plays its national anthem. The toy itself was made in China, but the packaging states the flag itself is a Valley Forge flag made in the USA
	"Bennington Flag" - historical United States Flag - Annin Bulldog (cotton) - A traditional fabric for a traditional flag.
	"Betsy Ross Flag" - historical United States Flag - Cotton - traditional flag fabric Make is unknown, has no manufacturer tags.  Has unusually LARGE grommets.
	"Star Spangled Banner" historical Unied States Flag - Annin Bulldog (Cotton) - with "dancing stars" - traditional flag fabric Note the applique, not embrodiered stars. Also note this flag has 15 stripes, originally, the flag was going to gain both a star and a stripe with each new state.
	"48 Star Flag" historical Unied States Flag - Believed to be Valley Forge Pioneer make (Cotton) Flag has sewn stripes, but a printed canton (star field) I bought this flag on eBay for $15, came to be virtually in mint condition still in it's original box.		Gadsden Flag - an emboridered on nylon example from Ruffin Flag
	Uncle Sam piggy bank with small United States Flag
	Flags of Our Country miniflag desk set by Annin - in my office at work
	Patriotic clock with historic US flags for the numerals. It plays Grand Old Flag every hour
	Small United States flag as part of 9/11 memorial statue

International Flags

This first section of flags depict the nations I have visited.

	Canada - Several visits - 1995, 1998, 1999
	United Kingdom - 2001 Ok, technically I was only in the airport but it was for five hours, so I am coutning it.
	United Kingdon - this is an all sewn, not printed, Union Jack - in Nylon
	Italy - 2001
	Vatican City - 2001 (aka Holy See or Papal Flag)
	Ireland - 2008 - This flag was actually purchased in Ireland!
	Germany 2010 - with Eagle - Purchased at the Covington, KY Oktoberfest
	Germany 2010
	Austria - 2010 - with eagle - small 2'x3' flag I bought in Salzburg, Austria
	Austria 2010 - with Eagle - 3'x'5'
	Austria 2010
	Hungary 2010 - with coat of arms - 3'x5' flag purchased in Budapest, Hungary - tags indicate a Hungarian flag maker
	Hungary 2010

	Nepal - No I have not visited Nepal, but I have collected this flag for its unique shape and beauty.
	European Union - visits in 2001, 2008, and 2010
	United Nations
	Miniature Flags of the World set - all 192 member nations of the United Nations are represented in this collection

State and other political flags

	State of Ohio - USA - My home state, and we have an unusual shaped flag as well. Note this is an Annin NylGlo with an all printed design.
	State of Ohio - USA - My home state, and we have an unusual shaped flag as well. Note this one is all sewn, both the stars and anywhere the color changes.
	Bavaria - Germany - Purchaed at Cincinnati Oktoberfest.
	City of Cincinnati Flag - Nylon

Xavier Flags

	Xavier Nation - This flag was sold by Xavier University in support of the Musketeers.  This design has since been discountinued.
	Xavier Muketeers - Old runing man logo - made by Dettra Flag with pole hem and leather tabs. I found this one at a local flag store several years after the running man logo was dropped
	Xavier flag with the Musketeer
	Xavier Flag with big X
	Old Xavier running man in blue on white background
	Xavier flag with current logo slightly damaged

Other Flags

	Cincinnati Reds
	Cincinnati Reds - This flag was a stadium give away on Flag Day in 2008
	Cincinnati Reds Pennant - made out of flag material, not felt like most pennants. Note the US Flag theme calendar with the baseball motif next to it
	POW-MIA Flag
	Jolly Roger Pirate Flag - "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life for Me!"
	Olympic Flag - purchased off of eBay several years ago.

Decorative Flags

	Rainy day duck
	Valentines Day
	Proud American flag featuring a flag image
	Statue of Liberty patriotic flag
	Spring Flowers
	Spring flowers with tassel
	Ladybugs
	Easter Bunny
	Santa
	Fall leaves
	Nativity Scene
	Country Dog
	Easter Bunny
	Triangle shaped snowman flag - note the long streamers that hang down from the flag have been clipped in photo
	Scarecrow
	Love Birds
	Spring Flowers
	Yet another spring flowers design
	Horse flag for the Kentucky Derby
	Kings Island Joe Cool flag - who said headers always have to be white, this one is red. Also note the unusual rope loops for attachment.

Semaphore Signal Flags

Okay, you know you have reached a new level in collecting flag items when you have not one but two sets of semaphore flags.  At least I have enough for two people to carry on a conversation. Alas, my semaphore is rusty at best.  Does anybody even USE semaphore anymore?

Semaphore Secret Decoder Ring

	My first set of Semaphore flags - I picked up this set at a flea market in 2005. Note the flags are red and white and have unusually long handles. These were grouped with a bunch of other Boy Scouting stuff. I've heard the unusually long sticks are a training aid to remind you to hold your arms straight and not to bend at the elbow. (Grasp up by the flag)
	My second set of  Sempahore flags - Red and yellow set.   This set is made of the traditional red/yellow colors and have the proper length sticks.
	Both sets together so you can see the differences
	Focus on the differing flag sizes and handle lengths.

International Code of Signals - Flags

The Interrnational Code of Signals is a universally agreed about set of flags and pennants used on sea to communicate ship-to-ship and ship-to-land

It consists of a set of 40 flags - 26 flags represent the letters of the alphabet, 10 pennants represet the digits 1-0, and 4 special flags act as repeaters which make it possible to send any 4 character message with just one standard set of flags. The set shown below is a Size 0 set, the smallest regulation size. It means a set this size would not be used on big warships or commerical ships. This kind of set may be used on small pleasure craft by hobbyists. Oh, let's not kid ourselves, this size set is most often used as decor in a nautical themed area. I bought this set used off of eBay for about $75, which isn't that bad when you consider it contains 40 all sewn (not printed design) nylon flags and a carrying case. As you can see the set came in very good condition, and you could tie the flags together in any order to send messages by tying the length of rope on one flag to the loop on the other. Yes, it can be done, yes I had to look that particular knot up.

	The flags in the 3x3 grid in the picture are the first 9 letters of the alphabet. Top Row: A-B-C Middle Row: D-E-F Bottom Row: G-H-I
	The flags in the 3x3 grid in the picture are the next 9 letters of the alphabet. Top Row: J-K-L Middle Row: M-N-O Bottom Row: P-Q-R
	The flags in the grid in the picture are the last 8 letters of the alphabet. Top Row: S-T Middle Row: U-V-W Bottom Row: X-Y-Z
	Here are the first 8 digits: 1st Row: 1-2 2nd Row: 3-4 3rd Row: 5-6 4th Row: 7-8
	The rest of the set: 1st Row: 9-0 2nd Row: 1st Repeater- 2nd Repeater 3rd Row: 3rd Repeater-Code or Answer Penannt The repeaters indicate the reader should repeat the indicated flag - so a 1st repeater would mean "Repeat the 1st flag used here, 2nd repeat would mean repeat the 2nd flag used here, and so on.
	The carrying/storage pouch for the set.
	My name in International Code of Signals - note the use of the 1st Repeater for the second "D"

Virtual Flags

The virtual "Flag of Coasterville"

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