Overview
Flags are a huge part of club, church, and community events. As you earn
this honor, you'll learn how to be an informed participant who knows the
value of each flag you use. Hey, you might even get to be part of a color
guard or flag raising ceremony while earning it!
The Challenging Part
The most challenging requirement of this honor is probably this:
8. Learn how to and practice placing flags (National/State/Province,
Christian, AY, Pathfinder) for each of the following occasions:
a. Campsite when camping.
b. Platform for Special Ceremonies.
c. Church Service for Induction, Investiture, and/or Pathfinder
Sabbath.
d. Fair Booth.
e. Pathfinder/AY Club meeting.
Describe what a flag is and list three uses of flags.
A flag is a piece of material with a distinctive design that is usually
rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration
attached on one edge to a pole or rope.
Know three important guidelines for the care and handling of your
national flag.
While some specific handling instructions differ somewhat between countries, the
following is nearly universally true:
1. The national flag should be flown above any other flags
2. The national flag should never touch the ground
3. Respect should be shown the flag - including saluting the flag
4. Tattered flags should not be displayed or flown but should be privately
disposed of, preferably by burning
Practice proper etiquette when saluting your national flag.
In uniform while standing
In uniform while marching.
Draw the Pathfinder flag with emblem.
Pathfinder Flag
Helen Hobbs made the Pathfinder flag. Pathfinder Club emblem designed by John H.
Hancock.
Know the meaning of the Pathfinder emblem.
Red (Sacrifice)
Reminds us of Christ. John 3:16, Rom. 12:1.
Gold (Excellence)
Standard of measurement. The Pathfinder Club has high standards to help
build strong character for the kingdom of heaven. Rev. 3:18
White (Purity)
We desire to have the purity and righteousness of Christ's life in our lives.
Rev. 3:5
Blue (Loyalty)
It is the purpose of the Pathfinder Club to help teach us to be loyal to our God
in heaven, our parents, and our church.
Three sides
Completeness of the Trinity -- Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19-20
Tripod of education:
Mental (Crafts and Honors)
Physical (Campouts, work bee, health focus)
Spiritual (Outreach and personal spiritual development)
Shield (Protection)
In the Scripture God is often called the shield of His people. Gen. 15:1, Eph.
6:16
Sword (Bible)
The sword is used in warfare. A battle is always won by offense. We are in a
battle against sin, and our weapon is the Word of God. Eph. 6:17
Inverted Triangle
The inverted order of importance Jesus taught which is contrary to that
taught by the world.
Sacrificing of one's self by placing the needs of others ahead of our own.
Pathfinder Club
The Pathfinder Club is one of the organizations of the world youth ministry of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Learn how to and practice placing flags (National/State/Province,
Christian, AY, Pathfinder) for each of the following occasions:
Campsite when camping.
When the national flag is displayed on campouts or at a camporee, it should
be placed to the left of those entering the camp and to the right of those who
are camping. When all flags are displayed on one pole, the national flag is at
the top, then the AY flag and the Pathfinder flag.
Platform for Special Ceremonies.
For a Pathfinder Day program, the national flag should be displayed to the
right of the speaker. Until recently the placement of the flag depended on
whether the flag was on the platform or not, but this rule has been
simplified.
Church Service for Induction, Investiture, and/or Pathfinder Sabbath.
If the flags are displayed elsewhere, other than the platform, the national
flag should be displayed to the right of the audience as they face the
platform. Other flags should be to the left of the audience.
Fair Booth.
Flags should be placed on the booth's right and the inspector's left. If the
national flag is part of a group of flags, it should be in the center and slightly
forward or raised. At public fairs, flags may be put inside the booth, but the
national flag is always on the viewer's left. &
Pathfinder/AY Club meeting.
To the right of the audience.
9
Learn and share with your group the history of your country/island’s flag and what
the colors and symbols on it represent.
Bermuda
The Flag of Bermuda was adopted on October 4, 1910 with a revision in
1999. The elements are:
British Red Ensign: The flag is the only British territory to use a red ensign
form on land (usual the red ensigns are for ships). The other British overseas
territories use a version of the blue ensign for general use ashore. Bermuda's
use of a red ensign on land is in keeping with Canada (pre-1965) and the
Union of South Africa (pre 1928), both of which used red ensigns ashore as
local flags in the early part of the 20th century.
Union Flag/Union Jack: in the upper left corner (the canton) signifying the ties
to the United Kingdom and also symbolizes oneness and unification. You can
explore the meaning of the Union Jack as well.
Coat of arms of Bermuda: centered on the fly half, the coat of arms is a red
lion (symbol of England) that is holding a shield that depicts a sinking Sea
Venture of Bermuda ship in the center. The flagship of the Virginia Company,
the Sea Venture was intentionally crashed into the reefs of Bermuda by its
Admiral, George Sommers, in 1609 to avoid a fierce storm. Because of this
daring act, 100% of the crew survived. The survivors chose to stay in the
island to become the first settlers of Bermuda.
In 1999, the scroll on the coat of arms was updated with the inscription – “
Quo Fata Ferunt” which means “Whither the Fates Carry [Us]”.
Canada
Canadian Heritage is responsible for flag promotion and protocol. Explore
their page here for everything you need to know about the Maple Leaf.
United Kingdom
All UK specific answers and other general info.
http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Flying_Flags_in_the_United_Kingdom.pdf
United States
The red and white stripes represent the original 13 colonies. The (current) 50
stars represent the current 50 states, the number being increased as states
were added.
Other Countries
If your country is not listed here, please research and add the info here. The
history of national flags is easy to find online.
Burundi
Flag of Burundi
The national flag of Burundi was adopted on June 28, 1967 after the
country's independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962. It consists of a white
saltire which divides the field into alternating red and green areas. The
center of the saltire merges into a white disk, on which there are three red
solid six-pointed stars outlined in green.
The flag is divided into four parts by a white cross. The upper and lower parts
are red in color while the left and right ones are green in color. White color of
the cross represents peace, green represents the nation's hopes placed on
future development and red symbolizes the suffering of the nation during its
freedom struggle.[2] The three stars in triangular configuration stand for the
three major ethnic groups of Burundi: the Hutu, the Twa and the Tutsi.[2]
The three stars also stand for the three elements of the national motto:
Unité, Travail, Progrès ("Unity, Work and Progress"), which can be seen on
the Coat of arms of Burundi.[3] They also represent the loyalty that the
citizens of the nations have pledged to their God, king and country. Flag of
Burundi
Rwanda
Flag_of_Rwanda
The flag of Rwanda was adopted on October 25, 2001. The flag has four
colours: blue, green, and two forms of yellow[1] (standard yellow for the
middle band and what the Pantone system calls "sun yellow" for the sun).
The blue band represents happiness and peace, the yellow band symbolizes
economic development, and the green band symbolizes the hope of
prosperity. The sun represents enlightenment. The new flag represents
national unity, respect for work, heroism, and confidence in the future. It was
adopted to avoid connotations to the 1994 genocide. The flag was designed
by Alphonse Kirimobenecyo. When hung vertically, the flag should be
displayed as the horizontal version rotated clockwise 90 degrees. Flag of
Rwanda
Zambia
Flag_of_Zambia
The flag of Zambia was adopted upon independence on October 24, 1964.
Before that, Zambia was the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia and
used a defaced Blue Ensign as its flag. The current flag is used as both
national flag and ensign. It is green with an orange-coloured African fish
eagle in flight over a rectangular block of three vertical stripes, coloured,
from left to right: red, black and orange. The placement of the eagle and
block of stripes at the flag's fly is notable as most emblems and devices on
flags are placed at centre or at the hoist.
The colours used in the flag of Zambia are rich in symbolism. Green stands
for the nation's lush flora, red for the nation's struggle for freedom, black for
the Zambian people, and orange for the land's natural resources and mineral
wealth. Additionally, the eagle flying above the coloured stripes is intended
to represent the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.
The Zambian flag was slightly modified in 1996. The shade of green used in
the 1964 flag was replaced with a brighter and lighter green and the eagle
was slightly altered so as to be more like the one used in the Zambian coat
of arms.
The design of the national flag of Zambia is described in National Flag and
Armorial Ensigns Act of 4 June 1965.[1] Green with an orange coloured eagle
in flight over a rectangular block of three vertical stripes coloured from left to
right in red, black and orange; of overall dimensions 3:2; and to the following
colour specifications: "Spectrum Green", British Colour Council Shade
reference 100. "Union Jack Red", British Colour Council Shade reference 210.
"Jet Black", British Colour Council Shade reference 220. "Spectrum Orange",
British Colour Council Shade reference 57.
Colours
The green was adjusted in 1996 to a lighter and brighter green. In 2012 The
London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
solicited advice from each participating nation the correct Pantone colours
for its flag. Once confirmed, the results were published in a guide.
Symbolism
The flag's colours and emblems are rich in symbolism. Each of the four
colours represents an aspect of Zambia: green for the country's natural
resources and vegetation; red for its struggle for freedom; black for its
people and orange for its mineral wealth (primarily copper). The eagle is an
African fish eagle, which also appears in the national coat of arms and
represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems.
Flag protocol
By law, the Zambian flag should be flown only between the hours of sunrise
and sunset and may be flown: - at buildings or premises owned or occupied
by the Government; - at buildings or premises owned or occupied by local
government authorities; - at buildings or premises owned or occupied by any
statutory board or statutory corporation; - at state-aided schools; - on any
motor car, boat or ship in or by which a Minister of Government is for the
time being travelling; - on any ship registered as Zambian.
The flag is not allowed to be flown by any other individual or institution
without express written permission from the Minister except on the following
occasions: - on the following public holidays, namely: Africa Freedom Day,
Heroes Day, Unity Day, and Independence Day; - on such other days or
occasions as the Minister may declare for this purpose. Flag of Zambia
South Sudan
Flag_of_South_Sudan
The flag of South Sudan was adopted following the signing of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil
War. The flag was previously used as the flag of the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement.
The flag bears striking similarities with those of Sudan (from whom Southern
Sudan seceded in 2011), and Kenya. It shares the black, white, red, and
green of the Sudanese flag (though different symbolism is given to the
colours), in addition to having a triangle along the hoist. The horizontal black,
white, red, and green bands, fimbriated white, are the same design as the
Kenyan flag, and the Pan-African symbolism it conveys.
The Southern Sudanese government also specifies that the colours of the
flag are to represent:
- Black: Black African skin.
- Red: Blood that was shed by the liberation struggle martyrs.
- Green: The country's natural resources and verdant land.
- White: Peace attained after many years of the liberation struggle.
- Blue: Waters of the Nile River, a source of life for the country.
- Yellow: The unity of the states making up South Sudan. Flag of South Sudan
Tanzania
Flag_of_Tanzania
The flag of Tanzania consists of a yellow-edged black diagonal band divided
diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner, with a green upper triangle and
blue lower triangle. Adopted in 1964 to replace the individual flags of
Tanganyika and Zanzibar, it has been the flag of the United Republic of
Tanzania since the two states merged that year. The design of the present
flag incorporates the elements from the two former flags.
The United Kingdom – together with its dominion South Africa and fellow
Allied power Belgium – occupied the majority of German East Africa in 1916
during the East African Campaign. Three years later, the British were tasked
with administering the Tanganyika Territory as a League of Nations mandate.
It was turned into a UN Trust Territory after World War II, when the LN
dissolved in 1946 and the United Nations was formed. In 1954, the
Tanganyika African Association – which spoke out against British colonial rule
– became the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) under the
leadership of Julius Nyerere and Oscar Kambona. The aim of the political
party was to attain independence for the territory; its flag was a tricolour
consisting of three horizontal green, black and green bands.Shortly before
independence in 1961, elections were held in Tanganyika. After the TANU
won comprehensively, the British colonial leaders advised them to utilize the
design of their party's flag as inspiration for a new national flag. As a result,
yellow stripes were added, and Tanganyika became independent on 9
December 1961.
In April 1964, both Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in order to form a single
country – the United Republic of Tanzania. Consequently, the flag designs of
the two states were amalgamated to establish a new national flag. The green
and black colours from the flag of Tanganyika were retained along with the
blue from Zanzibar's flag, with a diagonal design used "for distinctiveness".
[3] This combined design was adopted on 30 June 1964. It was featured on
the first set of stamps issued by the newly unified country.
Symbolism
The colors and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional
meanings. The green alludes to the natural vegetation and "rich agricultural
resources" of the country, while black represents the Swahili people who are
native to Tanzania. The blue epitomizes the Indian Ocean, as well as the
nation's numerous lakes and rivers. The thin stripes stand for Tanzania's
mineral wealth, derived from the "rich deposits" in the land. While Whitney
Smith in the Encyclopædia Britannica and Dorling Kindersley's Complete
Flags of the World describe the fimbriations as yellow, other sources – such
as The World Factbook and Simon Clarke in the journal Azania:
Archaeological Research in Africa – contend that it is actually gold. Flag of
Tanzania
Uganda
Flag_of_Uganda
The flag of Uganda was adopted on 9 October 1962, the date that Uganda
became independent from the United Kingdom. It consists of six equal
horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red (bottom);
a white disc is superimposed at the centre and depicts the national symbol, a
grey crowned crane, facing the hoist side.
History
When the Democratic Party ruled the country, a design for flag was
proposed. It had vertical stripes of green-blue-green, separated by narrower
yellow stripes, and in the centre had the silhouette of a yellow crane. After
the party lost the national elections on April 25, 1962 the newly elected
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) rejected the former design and instead
proposed the current design. It was based on the flag of UPC– a tricolor
having horizontal strips of red, yellow and black. The British administration
gave their approval to this design before the country's independence. The
flag was designed by the Ugandan Minister of Justice, Grace Ibingira.
Symbolism
The three colours are representative of African peoples (black), Africa's
sunshine (yellow), and African brotherhood (red being the colour of blood,
through which all Africans are connected). The grey crowned crane is fabled
for its gentle nature and was also the military badge of Ugandan soldiers
during British rule. The raised leg of the crane symbolizes the forward
movement of the country.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flag_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo
The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a sky blue flag, adorned
with a yellow star in the upper left canton and cut diagonally by a red stripe
with a yellow fimbriation. It was adopted on 20 February 2006. A new
constitution, ratified in December 2005 and which came into effect in
February 2006, promoted a return to a flag similar to that flown between
1963 and 1971, with a change from a royal blue to sky blue background.
Blue represents peace. Red stands for "the blood of the country's martyrs,
yellow the country's wealth; and the star a radiant future for the country."
Previous flags
The previous flag was adopted in 2003. It is similar to the flag used between
1960 and 1963. The flag is based on the flag which was originally used by
King Leopold's Association Internationale Africaine and was first used in
1877. The design was then implemented as the flag of the Congo Free State
after the territory was recognized as an official possession of Leopold II at
the Berlin Conference. After gaining independence from Belgium on 30 June
1960, the same basic design was maintained. However, six stars were
incorporated to symbolise the six provinces of the country at the time. This
design was used only from 1960 to 1963.
The flag of the first Republic of Mobutu Sese Seko became the official banner
after Mobutu established his dictatorship. This flag was used from 1966–1971
and consisted of the same yellow star, now made smaller, situated in the top
corner of the hoist side, with a red, yellow-lined band running diagonally
across the center. The red symbolized the people's blood; the yellow
symbolized prosperity; the blue symbolized hope; and the star represented
unity. This flag was changed when the country was renamed Zaire in 1971.
The Zaire flag was created as part of Mobutu's attempted re-Africanization of
the nation and was used officially until Mobutu's overthrow in the First Congo
War. Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Australian Flag
Flag of Australia
The Australian National Flag (the flag) was first flown in 1901. It is Australia's
foremost national symbol and has become an expression of Australian
identity and pride.The flag is paraded by our defense forces and displayed
around the country at sporting events and by service organisations, schools,
community groups and private citizens. The flag has three elements on a
blue background: the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star and the Southern
Cross. The Union Jack in the upper left corner represents the history of British
settlement. Below the Union Jack is a white Commonwealth, or Federation,
star. It has seven points representing the unity of the six states and the
territories of the Commonwealth of Australia. The star is also featured on the
Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The Southern Cross is shown on the flag in
white. It is a constellation of five stars that can only be seen from the
southern hemisphere and is a reminder of Australia’s geography.
10
Identify the flags of your Division and know what countries they represent.
The Adventist Church has divided the world into 13 administrative districts it
calls Divisions.
North American Division
The North American Division comprises 10 countries and territories:
Bermuda
Flag of Bermuda
The current Bermuda flag was adopted in the 1910. As a British overseas
territory, Bermuda's flag features the United Kingdom flag upper left. The
green and white badge displays a red lion holding a shield that symbolizes
the sinking of the Sea Venture about one mile off the coastline of Bermuda in
the summer of 1609 by the founders of Bermuda. The ship was caught in a
hurricane, so the captain intentionally struck a reef near the island saving all
lives on board. &
Canada
Flag of Canada
The flag of Canada was officially adopted on February 15, 1965. The
Canadian Red Ensign, bearing the Union Jack and the shield of the royal arms
of Canada, was lowered and then, on the stroke of noon, the new maple leaf
flag was raised. The crowd sang the national anthem O Canada, followed by
the royal anthem, God Save the Queen.
The following words, spoken on that momentous day by the Honourable
Maurice Bourget, Speaker of the Senate, added further symbolic meaning to
the flag: "The flag is the symbol of the nation's unity, for it, beyond any
doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race,
language, belief or opinion." The stylish red maple leaf has been the national
symbol of Canada for over 150 years. Red and white are the official colors of
Canada, proclaimed by King George V in 1921. &
St.Pierre and Miquelon (French islands close to Newfoundland with no
Adventist presence)
Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon are a self-governing territory of France. The stylish
flag features a red sailing ship on a blue field. The three-part verticle band on
the left side displays the heraldic arms of local settlements established by
French colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany (center), and
Normandy (bottom).&
The Flag of France also flies in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Flag of France
Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, used on the city's coat of
arms. Blue is identified with Saint Martin, red with Saint Denis. At the
storming of the Bastille in 1789, the Paris militia wore blue and red cockades
on their hats. White had long featured prominently on French flags and is
described as the "ancient French colour" by Lafayette.[1] White was added
to the "revolutionary" colors of the militia cockade to "nationalise" the
design, thus creating the tricolour cockade.[1] Although Lafayette identified
the white stripe with the nation, other accounts identify it with the
monarchy.[3] Lafayette denied that the flag contains any reference to the
red-and-white livery of the Duc d'Orléans. Despite this, Orléanists adopted
the tricolour as their own.
Blue and red are associated with the Virgin Mary the patron saint of France,
and were the colours of Charlemagne's ensign and war cry, "Montjoie". The
colours of the French flag may also represent the three main estates of the
Ancien Régime (the clergy: white, the nobility: red and the bourgeoisie:
blue). Blue, as the symbol of class, comes first and red, representing the
nobility, comes last. Both extreme colours are situated on each side of white
referring to a superior order.[4] Lafayette's tricolour cockade was adopted in
July 1789, a moment of national unity that soon faded. Royalists began
wearing white cockades and flying white flags, while the Jacobins, and later
the Socialists, flew the red flag. The tricolour, which combines royalist white
with republican red, came to be seen as a symbol of moderation and of a
nationalism that transcended factionalism.
The three colours are occasionally taken to represent the three elements of
the revolutionary motto, liberté (freedom: blue), égalité (equality: white),
fraternité (brotherhood: red); this symbolism was referenced in Krzysztof
Kieślowski's three colours film trilogy, for example.
United States (excluding Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands which are
in IAD)
Flag of the United States
The flag of the United States features thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red
(top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged
in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with
rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states; the 13 stripes the 13
original colonies. The flag is known as Old Glory, and no one knows for
certain who designed it. Most historians believe that U.S. Congressman,
Francis Hopkinson was the original designer, while a few still believe that
Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first one. &
US Pacific territories of Guam, Northern Marianas, and Wake Island
Flag of Guam
The flag of Guam was designed on the island, and officially adopted in 1917.
As a territory of the United States it features traditional U.S. colors, along
with a symbolic seal that includes a swaying palm tree, sand, and the waters
of the Pacific Ocean.&
Flag of Northern Mariana Islands
The flag of Northern Mariana Islands was officially adopted in 1972. The
islands are a territory of the United States, symbolized by the centered white
star. Under that star, a gray latte stone is representative of a traditional
foundation stone, one used in building. The surrounding wreath is comprised
of colorful local flowers.&
Flag of Wake Island
The Wake Island flag includes the colors of the US flag, a maps of the 3
islands that make up the territory and three white stars representing those
islands. The flag clearly conveys the connection to the United States.
Palau
Flag of Palau
The flag of Palau was adopted on 1 January 1981, when the island group
separated from the United Nations Trust Territory and became a republic.
Previously, the flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was flown
jointly with the United Nations and American flags. Like some other flags of
several other Pacific island groups, blue is the colour used to represent the
ocean and the nation's place within it.
The flag's very simple design belies the depth of meaning attributed to it.
The explanation for the choice of colours is rooted in the history and customs
of the Palauan people. The bright blue of the field, which might be assumed
to be symbolic of the Pacific Ocean, is in fact a representation of the
transition from foreign domination to self-government. The golden disk,
which sits slightly off centre toward the hoist, represents the full moon. The
Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity.
At this time of the month, celebrations, fishing, sowing, harvesting, tree-
felling, and the carving of traditional canoes are carried out. The moon is a
symbol of peace, love, and tranquility.
The Marshall Islands
Flag of the Marshall Islands
The flag of the Marshall Islands was adopted upon the start of self-
governance, May 1, 1979. The flag was designed by Emlain Kabua, who
served as the first First Lady of the republic.
The Marshall Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
administered by the United States, from which the Marshall Islands, Palau,
and the Federated States of Micronesia split. In common with other island
nations in the region, this flag features the symbolic representation of the
islands' place within the ocean. The rising diagonal band represents the
equator, the star above representing this Northern Hemisphere archipelago.
The white and orange portions of the band represent, respectively, the Ratak
Chain ("sunrise") and the Ralik Chain ("sunset"), as well as symbolizing
peace and courage. The star's 24 points represent the number of electoral
districts, while the four elongated points represent the principal cultural
centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje and Ebeye.
The Federated States of Micronesia
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia
The flag of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) was adopted on 10
November 1979. The blue field represents the Pacific Ocean, while the four
stars represent the states in the federation: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap,
with the stars arranged like the points of the compass.
The flag brings together element of previous flags flown over the islands. The
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands used a six star flag however the current
flag excludes the stars representing Palau, the Marshall Islands and Northern
Mariana, which chose not to participate in the Federation, and adds back a
star because the Trust Territory flag combined two islands in the group in
one of the six stars. The blue and white colors are those of the UN flag which
flew over the islands from 1947 - 1965. The idea of stars representing states
echos the US flag, which also flew over the islands for many years.
(these last three countries are in free association with the United States and
with the three US Pacific territories form the Guam-Micronesia Mission, which
became part of the North American Division in 2011.)
Other Parts of the World
You can see a list of countries currently associated with the other Divisions
and attached regions here. From that list you can assemble a collection of
the required flags.
