AY Honors/Flags - Advanced/Answer Key
1. Earn the Flags Honor
2. What is the study of flags called?
3. Know and identify the following basic types of flags and list one flag for each type
- a. Badge
- b. Bicolor
- c. Burgee
- d. Canton
- e. Couped Cross
- f. Cross
- g. Pennant
- h. Quartered
- i. Serration
- j. Triangle
- k. Triband
- l. Guidon
4. Choose three national flags, including your own, that combined have all the following colors. On those flags, what do the colors represent:
a. Red b. Blue c. Black
d. Green e. White f. Yellow
- Canada Red: From the Cross of St George ( an element in the UK flag) White: French royal emblem. Together the official colors of Canada since 1921 long before the Maple Leaf was designed.
- USA Red: White: Blue:
- Malasia: Red: equal states White: equal states Blue: Unity of the Malaysian people. Yellow: Malasian Royalty.
- Republic of China: Red: White:
- South Africa: The colors have no official meaning but Black, Gold and Green were part of the African National Congress flag and Blue, white, red and green were on the previous South African flag. Therefore it is commonly understood the colors represent a blending of the black and white societies and the design suggests moving forward.
5. Learn how to properly hoist and retrieve the following flags.
a. National flag b. State/Province c. Pathfinder/AY d. Christian/Area (District or County)
6. Learn when and why a flag is flown at ½ staff.
Flags are flown at half mast or half staff (term varies by country) as a sign of morning, respect, or distress. The tradition may relate to leaving room for the invisible flag of death. In some areas the flag is left one flag height from the top of the pole, while in other places it is moved to half way up the pole. When raising a flag to half mast one should raise it briefly to the top than lower it to the half mast position. When taking down the flag, raise it to the top briefly and than lower to the base.
The rules and reasons depend in the country. This wikipedia article provides information on the customs in many countries.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-mast
7. What are the conditions that require a National flag to be lighted?
8. Teach proper techniques for folding and storing flags
a. National flag b. State/Province flag c. Christian flag d. AY/Pathfinder flags
There are no rules or protocol for folding the Canadian flag other than doing it respectfully.
9. Learn how to properly display your National flag.
a. Parade –alone, with another, or in a row of flags (US flag never dips) b. On a platform c. Vertically or horizontally on a wall d. On a casket e. In a group of flags on the same halyard f. Flags from two or more nations