Month: December 2010

Valley Forge Flags

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Looking for a Valley Forge Flag? The United States Flag Store is the largest vendor of Valley Forge flags and accessories. At the U.S. Flag Store’s website, you’ll find the widest variety and most complete selection of Valley Forge flags.

The Valley Forge Flag Company began as a burlap sac company in 1882. During World War I, the company became a surplus and began making American flags. Due to increasing demand for the company’s expertly sewn products, the Valley Forge Flag Company opened a small sewing factory in Spring City, PA in 1932. Since its inception, the Valley Forge Flag Company remains a family-owned business that manufactures U.S. flags with exclusively American-made materials. The Valley Forge Flag Company is also a founding member of the Flag Manufacturers Association of American, an organization committed to educating the public and flag sellers about the importance of 100% American-made flags.

The Valley Forge American Flags have been flown during many significant American wars and events. During World War II, a Valley Forge flag was raised on Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, after the U.S. military liberated more than 20,000 prisoners at Buchenwald (flown at half mast), and after liberating several French cities on D-Day. On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin placed a Valley Forge American flag on the moon. Valley Forge Flags also used during all of the American wars since World War II, at military funerals, and in several Hollywood films.

The United States Flag Store provides a great way for you to own these very special flags at unbeatable prices. The Valley Forge nylon American flags are beautifully sewn and have embroidered stars. They can be flown outside, are designed to resist fading and fraying and have reinforced fly ends.

The Valley Forge Best cotton flags are made of heavyweight 2×2 ply mercerized cotton, combining rich, vibrant, long-lasting colors with durable quality. The best fabric for outdoor use, the cotton flags have four rows of stitching for ultimate durability in a cotton flag.

Valley Forge also manufactures a line of Koralex II American flags. Koralex II is a polyester fabric that is designed to look like coarse cotton. Koralex is designed for outdoor use and resists fading and fraying more effectively than nylon flags.

These are just three of the most basic Valley Forge American flags sold at the United States Flag Store’s website. Be sure to visit the site for Valley Forge flagpoles, residential kits, pleated fans, and heritage series flags at the best prices on the web!

Flag of the Canary Islands

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The flag of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands was officially adopted on August 16, 1982. The flag is rectangular with three vertical stripes. One left side is a white stripes, a blue stripes is in the center, and a yellow stripes is on the right side. In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of the Canary Islands.

The flag was designed in the 1960s during the Canary Islands Independence Movement, or the Movement for the Independence and Self-determination of the Canaries Archipelago. The movement largely used violence to attempt to achieve independence for the Canary Islands from the Spanish government by force.

Carmen Sarmiento and her two sons, Arturo and Jesus, all activists in the Canary Islands Independence Movement, designed the flag of the Canary Islands on September 7, 1961. The family made approximately 3000 flags on paper ribbons and distributed them the following day at the “fiesta of the Virgin Mary of Pino.”

The flag of the Canary Islands combines the colors of two of the archipelago’s provinces. The province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (making up the western part of the Canary Islands) flew a blue and white flag; and the province of Las Palmas (making up the eastern part of the Canary Islands flew blue and yellow flag. According to some traditions, the white color represents the water that comes off of the mountains, the yellow represents the yellow canary songbird, and the blue represents the celestial blue sky.

The coat of arms of the Canary Islands consists of a blue shield with seven islands inside. Two dogs, in Latin called Insularia Canaria, support the flag, and are thought to depict a large breed of fierce dogs from which the Canary Islands archipelago gets its name. A red crown sits on top of the shield and the word “Oceano” waves on a ribbon over the top.

Texas Gift Ideas

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Need a gift for your favorite Texan? Look no further than the United States Flag Store’s website for the best Texas gifts at the best prices!

The Six Flags Over Texas gift set is the ultimate Texas flag gift. The gift set includes the six banners that have flown over what is now Texas, including the flags of France, Spain, Mexico, the Confederate States, the United States (28-star version), and, of course, Texas. All flags are 4×6 inches and printed on a polyester-cotton blend. A wooden base is included with the flag set, allowing for display on a desk or table. At a low price of just $7.95 and with a presentation box to boot, this is a great gift for a Texan serving in the military.

The Fibre Metal Texas Hard Hat combines Texas pride with supreme safety. Fibre Metal uses a full graphic process to produce a beautifully vibrant Texas flag that won’t chip, fade, or peel on a SEI-certified thermoplastic hard hat. Besides depicting the Texas flag, the phrase, “Don’t mess with Texas,” appears on the front of the hat.  For business-owners, these hard hats make great safety awards or a special groundbreaking ceremony hats. Order ten or more of these hats to receive an unbelievably low price of $26.99 each!

If you’re just looking for a simple gift, check out the United States Flag Store’s fantastic selection of Texas Stick Flags and Car Flags. The Texas Stick Flags are of the highest quality possible—sewn around the edges for ultimate durability—and are available for as low as $0.80 per flag. The Texas car flag is made of durable, knitted polyester and is double sided to resist wear and tear. At a low price of $7.95 each, order one for yourself and a friend!

For your beach beauty, the United States Flag Store has the ultimate Texas gift: a Texas flag bathing suit! Divided down the center with a blue stripe and white star one side and red and white on the other, this bathing suit is sure to grab the attention of other proud Texans at the pool or beach!

Flag of Guatemala

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The original flag of Guatemala was adopted on August 17, 1871, and the current version was adopted in 1968. The flag is rectangular and divided into three vertical fields. The left and right fields are sky blue and the center field is white with the Guatemalan coat of arms in the center.

The blue and white colors on the flag of Guatemala represent the original colors used by the Federal Republic of Central America: a republican democracy that spanned what is now Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and the Mexican state of Chiapas. The blue stripes on the side of the flag also represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the two large bodies of water that border Guatemala. The white symbolizes peace and purity.

In 1968, the Guatemalan coat of arms was added to the center of the flag. The coat of arms contains five main elements. The bird is the Resplendent Quetzal, and is a species distinct to Central America and also symbolizes liberty. The scroll contains the phrase, “Libertad 15 de Septiembre de 1821,” meaning “September 15, 1821 is that date of Central America’s independence from Spain.” The crossed rifles with bayonets represent the Guatemalan people’s willingness to defend their country by force if necessary. The crossed swords represent honor and the laurel branches, common to many coats of arms, signify victory.

Guatemala used several different flags between its independence from Spain in 1821 and the adoption of its current flag. When Guatemala was part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1825-1838), it flew a blue and white tricolor flag, but with horizontal stripes instead of vertical stripes. After the dissolution of the Federal Republic, Guatemala flew the same tricolor but with a different coat of arms in the center until 1851. When a pro-Spanish faction took over Guatemala in 1851, red and yellow stripes were included in the Guatemalan flag until 1871.

Canadian Gift Ideas

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Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite Canadian? The United States Flag Store has the best Canadian flag gifts at the best prices. From patches and pins to hard hats and flag spinners, you’re sure to find a Canadian flag gift that fits your budget!

If you haven’t seen the United States Flag Store’s Country Spinner Flagpole Kit with Adjustable Brackets, this makes a perfect flag gift for any flag enthusiast. The kit includes a beautiful three-by-five foot polyester flag with metal grommets and a high-quality aluminum spinner that rotates so your flag won’t wrap around the pole. Adjustable aluminum brackets and EZ mount clips are also included. These kits are excellent for residential use inside or out and are available for as $19.50 each when you order ten or more kits!

If you’re looking for a smaller gift, the Canadian flag lapel pin or American-Canadian flag lapel pins are great choices. Available for as low as $0.75 each, these pins have an all-gold metal lacquered design, a metal clutch, and enamel finish. Even at a price this low, these pins are of better quality than many of our competitors!

The United States Flag Store has two fantastic Canadian flag decals. The decals are made of durable vinyl that is waterproof and printed with UV-blocking inks. The decals’ adhesive is nonpermanent, making them perfect for display on a car, trailer, boat, truck, or motorcycle. Choose from a basic Canadian flag or an oval decal with the letters “CDN” and Canadian flags on either side.

For your favorite Canadian construction worker, check out the United States Flag Store’s Canadian hard hat made by MSA. With a bright and attractive design, a superior finish, and MSA’s Fas-Trac suspension, this hard hat brings together Canadian pride and superior safety. These Maple Leaf hats are available for as low as $27.08 each: almost $9 off the list price!

Be sure to check out the United States Flag Store’s other Canadian flag gift ideas, including stickers, temporary tattoos, and patches to satisfy all your Maple Leaf needs!

Flag of Armenia

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The flag of Armenia was adopted on August 24, 1990. The flag is rectangular and a horizontal tricolor. The top stripe is red, the middle stripe is blue, and the bottom stripe is gold.

The colors on the Armenian flag have symbolic meaning but the exact interpretation varies. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the red stripe has five meanings: it represents “the Armenian highland, the Armenian people’s continual struggle for survival, maintenance of the Christian faith, Armenia’s independence, and freedom.” The blue stands for the Armenian people’s determination to live under peaceful skies. Finally, the orange represents the Armenian people’s creativity and hard-working attitude.

Another tradition presents a slightly different interpretation. The red stands for the bloodshed and lives lost by Armenian soldiers in wartime. The blue represents the sky, and the orange represents the fertility of the Armenian soil and also the agricultural workers.

Previous versions of the Armenian flag are very different from the country’s current banner. The earliest Armenian flags used in ancient times varied by dynasty. The flags would usually include a symbolic animal—a dragon, eagle, or lion, for example—on a solid background.

In the nineteenth century, Armenia split between the Persian and Ottoman Empires and the region did not wave a flag for most of the century. In 1885, however, the Armenian Students Association of Paris requested an Armenian flag to fly at the French writer Victor Hugo’s funeral. Father Ghevont Alishan, an Armenian Catholic Priest, designed Armenia’s first tricolor flag with red, green, and white stripes. Alishan designed the flag with intentions of the red stripe symbolizing “Red” Sunday (the first Sunday of Easter) and the green band symbolizing the “Green” Sunday. Alishan chose white was chosen arbitrarily to complete the flag.

When Armenia gained independence on May 28, 1918, the Democratic Republic of Armenia adopted the first version of the modern Armenian flag. The flag was officially adopted again in 1990 by the Armenian Supreme Soviet (the Armenian legislative body) with a slightly different ratio than the original 1918 flag.

Flag of Georgia

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The flag of Georgia was adopted on January 25, 2004. The flag known as the “five-cross flag” because it features five St. George’s crosses: one cross stretches across the flag’s white background and one small cross appears in each quadrant of the flag.

The flag of Georgia is based on the single St. George’s cross flag, which pays tribute Saint George, a Christian soldier, priest, and martyr.  He is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern, Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches.  According to legend, St. George saved the King of Silene’s daughter from a plague-bearing dragon that the king’s daughter was sent to slay herself. Saint George tamed the dragon and brought the beast into the king’s village where Saint George told the townspeople that he would slay the dragon if everyone agreed to become baptized Christians.  The townspeople consented, Saint George slayed the dragon, and the king built a church on the site of the dragon’s death.

The single St. George’s cross flag is probably one of the oldest flags in the world, and was used in Georgia by King Vakhtang Gorgasali in the fifth century. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the “five-cross flag” was used under the reign of Queen Tamar of Georgia and George V of Georgia, respectively. According to medieval tradition, the five crosses represent the five Holy Wounds of Christ.

After the medieval era, the “five-cross flag” was not used and many other versions of the Georgia flag were developed. In the twentieth century, the Democratic Republic of Georgia flew a red rectangular flag with two short horizontal stripes—one black and one white—in the upper left corner. This flag was used from 1918 until 1921 and from 1990 until 2004.

When Georgia was under Soviet rule and known as the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1921-1990), the country used three different communist flags. Each flag was red and included either the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic’s name or the hammer and sickle icon.

Winter Solstice Windsock

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The winter solstice is just around the corner, and the Winter Solstice Windsock from the United States Flag Store is the perfect way to welcome the shortest day of the year!

The winter solstice is December 21 at exactly 11:38PM and refers to the moment when the Earth is at the farthest point from the sun in its orbit. Although the solstice only occurs for an instant, the term is used to refer to the first day of winter and also the shortest day (longest night) of the year. From this day forward, the days will gradually get longer until the summer solstice, in June.

Many cultures have and continue to honor and observe the winter solstice. In ancient times, surviving the winter was not always certain, so reaching the winter solstice marked an important time to make sure one had enough food in reserves to last until spring. In more temperate areas, the winter solstice marked a final celebration that included slaughtering animals that wouldn’t survive the winter and drinking the first of the fermented grains prepared from the wheat harvest. Still other cultures celebrate the birth or rebirth of sun gods.

Even now, many people gather at the winter solstice in order to have something to look forward to on the darkest day of the year. These gatherings most notably occur in arctic regions of the world where winter daylight hours are few and seasonal depression is more common.

No matter what your winter solstice traditions are, the Winter Solstice Windsock is a great way to beat the winter blues! Featuring a bright wintry scene complete with trees, stars, and snow in bright and bold blues and greens, just looking at this windsock will brighten your day! Even better, it’s fade and mildew resistant so it’s sure to last a harsh winter. Don’t forget to order the matching garden flag to really brighten your outdoor décor!

Winter Garden Flags

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Winter is here—complete with snow—and your home décor isn’t complete without a Winter Garden Flag from the United States Flag Store! With an awesome selection of designs and new ones always arriving, winter may get old, but your flags will not!

If whimsical flags are your style, you’ll find a great selection of adorable winter-themed flags. The Mitten Applique Flag features an cute mitten cutout decorated in bold blue, green, and purple colors. The flag is garden sized (12.5” x 18”) and is fade and mildew resistant. The Snowman Applique Flag is an absolutely adorable way to decorate your house! The flag features a smiling snowman donning a big black hat, scarf, and red patches. To top it off, a little red bird sits on a holly leaf on his hat!

If you really like snowmen, the United States Flag Store has several great snowmen flags. The Chilly Snowman Applique Flag features an appliqued snowman wearing earmuffs and a scarf looking at a bird in a Christmas tree. “Welcome” is written across the bottoms in a cute handwritten style, making it look like the snowman wrote the word himself!

The Snowman Pyramid Flag features six happy snowmen wearing hats, scarves, and mittens, standing on top of one another in a pyramid on a starry night. If six snowmen is too many, the Winter Snowman Flag features one chilly, but heartwarming, snowman wearing a Christmas-colored scarf, hat, and mitten. Two red bird fly in the green and red background. Best of all, this design is also available in a banner flag and mailbox cover to make a complete set!

The United States Flag Store also has a beautiful selection of scenic winter flags. Choose from plenty of bird flags featuring blue birds, chickadees, and cardinals. Or, welcome winter with a beautifully designed snowflake flag, all available at the United States Flag Store’s website!

Mailbox Covers

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Are you tired of your same old, boring—and maybe rusty—mailbox? The U.S. Flag Store is here to help you give your old mailbox a makeover with a Mailwraps Magnetic Mailbox Cover! With addressable, seasonal, holiday, and animal mailbox covers, you’re sure to find something to spruce up your box!

If you’re looking for a unique way to display your street address, then consider personalizing a Mailwraps Addressables Mailbox Cover. With a huge variety of styles featuring turning leaves, birds, pumpkins, snowmen, flowers, and the American flag, you can customize your mailbox wrap to your own home’s style.

Christmas is in just a couple of weeks now, but it’s not too late to order your Christmas Mailbox Cover. The U.S. Flag Store has so many Christmas styles to suit your tastes: designs include whimsical snowmen, Christmas tree scenes, Santa, and poinsettia. But don’t forget the other holidays! At the U.S. Flag Store site, you’ll find mailbox covers for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.

Show off your patriotic American spirit with Mailwraps Patriotic Mailbox Covers featuring plenty of good old red, white, and blue! You’ll find a wide variety of patriotic mailbox wraps at the U.S. Flag Store’s website. Some of the designs available include an Addressables mailbox cover, a colonial flag, an antique flag, patriotic hearts, and a celebration flag. The U.S. Flag Store also has a “Support Our Troops” mailbox cover, featuring the yellow ribbon.

If you like to change your mailbox cover with the seasons, the U.S. Flag Store has a huge variety of season mailbox covers for winter, spring, summer, and fall. Designs feature everything you could imagine: from snowflakes and beach scenes to snowmen and mittens.

Do you have a plastic mailbox? Not a problem at the U.S. Flag Store! Just order a Mailwarps Adapter Kit for plastic mailboxes. The kit includes two self-adhesive “magnet receiver strips” that allow your mailbox to hold on to any of the U.S. Flag Store’s great mailbox covers!