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The American flag is sometimes called the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, or The Red White and Blue. Whatever the nickname, it is one of the most recognized symbols in the world.
The original flag, adapted by the Continental Congress in 1777, had thirteen stripes, 7 red and 6 white, and a "New Constellation" of 13 stars in a field of blue. Both the stars and the stripes represented the 13 original colonies which declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, and established themselves as the United States of America. Over the years the 13 red and white stripes have remained constant, but as new states have been added to the Union another star was placed on the flag for each of them, until today there are 50 stars.
I am old enough to remember when the 48th and 49th states, Alaska and Hawaii, were added to the Union. I was in elementary school then, and the teachers made a big production out of introducing the new flags, first going from 48 to 49 stars, and then again from 49 to 50.
"Blue Flag" 2019
"Blue-Flag” 2019 is a biannual international aerial training exercise hosted by the IAF. Air forces from the United States, Italy, Greece and Germany simulated extreme combat scenarios in realistic settings with the IAF.
The current exercise was the first exercise in which the "Adir" (F-35I) aircraft participated.
Photography: Amit Agronov
״בלו-פלאג״ 2019 הוא תרגיל אווירי בין-לאומי שנערך על ידי חיל האוויר הישראלי. לאורך התרגיל, חילות האוויר של ארה״ב, איטליה, יוון, וגרמניה דימו תרחישי לחימה קיצוניים וטיסה בקואליציה באופן המציאותי ביותר עם חיל-האוויר הישראלי.
התרגיל הנוכחי היה הראשון שבו השתתפו מטוסי ה"אדיר" (F-35I).
צילום: עמית אגרונוב
Public buildings in the UK are today flying the Union Jack to mark the birthday of Her majesty the Queen who was born on this day in 1926
Flag hosting cermony on the inaugration of games at the event of Salana Ijtema Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya India 2014
The Lindsay name Is of Norman origin, from De Limesay, and first appeared in 12th century.
The flag seen here flies over the Norman Hedingham Castle, which dates from around 1140, and is owned by the Lindsays, in the County of Essex.
The Lindsays are direct descendants of the de Veres, one the longest and most illustrious line of nobles of England, and the star on the family standard dates from the First Crusade of 1098. During the Battle of Antioch, with night falling a brilliant star appeared on the standard being carried by Earl Aubrey de Vere. The battlefield was illuminated, victory was won, and the de Veres carried the star as their emblem ever since.
Flags at the gate of the Hessenland Country Inn, in Bluewater, Huron County, Ontario. Germany, Canada, USA. A country inn with a German flavour.
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), along with service members from the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard, place U.S. flags at every gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery as part of Flags-In, Arlington, Va., May 26, 2022.
On this day, over 1,000 service members placed flags at more than 250,000 headstones and at the bottom of about 7,000 niche rows at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery.
(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery/released)
Ambassador Heidt talked extensively about the female entrepreneurs from Cambodia who were selected to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Hyderabad, India, which was co-sponsored by the United States and India and featured participants from 150 countries.
[U.S. Embassy photo by Un Yarat]
These were in a recycle bin next to a cemetery's utility building. Surprised to see this. FYI, the lid was closed but I could see these sticking so I opened said lid and took the picture.
A national flag raising ceremony at Imjin Barracks on Wednesday, 14 Oct, honoured the arrival of three new participating member nations. This October, Estonia, Poland, and Sweden has sent officers to join the permanent staff of Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. (Photo by WO2 Dan Harmer GBR Army / Released)
14 October 2015
ARRC salutes flags of joining Estonia, Sweden, and Poland
A national flag raising ceremony at Imjin Barracks on Wednesday honoured the arrival of three new participating member nations. This October, Estonia, Poland, and Sweden has sent officers to join the permanent staff of Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
“Today marks a very special day in the history of the ARRC with the addition of these three nations. Their commitment is very welcome and a testament to the solidarity and success of a multinational approach to collective defence,” said Lt. Gen. Tim Evans, CBE DSO, commander of the ARRC.
“I enjoy the working culture the different nationalities. And every nation has something to offer that helps in understanding the HQ,” said Lt. Col. Pukk, a new plans officer from Tallinn.
Referring to Exercise ARRCADE FUSION 2015, Pukk said “This is important to Estonia because we are united with NATO and happy the HQ ARRC will be in the Baltic States.”
“In my short time here I have seen how all the nations work. Everyone works toward the same effort to develop a good plan that will work in everyone’s interest,” said Maj. Larbol, from Stockholm, Sweden
“Poland and the UK have a strong history. We are following similar priorities and values which are to ensure peace and stability,” said the Polish Army officer.
The additions mark a significant step in one of the most diverse, multi-national headquarters of the 9 NATO Rapid Deployable Corps HQs, all of which are capable to command up to 60,000 troops. This year the ARRC remains on standby as a Joint Task Force HQ for Small Land Operations, ready if called upon by the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and SACEUR. Currently, the ARRC is preparing for their annual training Exercise ARRCADE FUSION 2015 in the Baltics. Two more nations are scheduled to become permanent members of ARRC before the end of the year.
(NATO photo/WO2 Dan Harmer GBR Army)
A little pin that I used to use back in the day when doing business with my US colleagues!
Our Daily Challenge ~ Tiny ....
Thanks to everyone who views this photo, adds a note, leaves a comment and of course BIG thanks to anyone who chooses to favourite my photo .... Thanks to you all.
Chile Series
Equipment
Nikon D80 + Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS
Location
Calle Caracolles – San Pedro de Atacama - Chile
Coments
PT Começo hoje uma nova série. Há muito tempo que não faço isso, porém, essa viagem reascendeu minha vontade de fotografar novamente. E nesse aspecto, o Chile é um prato cheio, com uma diversidade monstruosa de cenários, climas e paisagens. Estou fazendo um livro dessa minha viagem, para guardar de recordação. E vamos lá ...
ENG I start today a new series. Long time that I don’t do it, but this trip has reignited my desire to shoot again. In this regard, Chile is a full plate, with a monstrous variety of scenarios, climates and landscapes. I'm doing a book of my journey to save the memory. And here we go ...
ESP Comienza hoy una nueva serie. Hace mucho que no lo hago, pero este viaje ha vuelto a encender mi deseo de disparar de nuevo. En este sentido, Chile es un plato lleno, con una variedad enorme de escenarios, climas y paisajes. Estoy haciendo un libro que mi viaje para salvar la memoria. Y aquí vamos ...
Atention: *Please don't post awards, medals or pics. Thank You
Atenção: *Por favor, não postem prêmios, medalhas ou figuras. Obrigado
Israeli Air Force “Baz” (F-15)
“Blue-Flag” 2017
Photography: Adi Abu
מטוס ״בז״ של חיל-האוויר הישראלי
״בלו-פלאג״ 2017
צילום: עדי עבו
All over the capital, the Arirang adverts (« Grand mass gymnastic and artistic performance », « Welcome to Pyongyang » and so on) warn the profane…Between August and October, takes place one of the biggest and most impressive performances in the world. The tone is set : even the Beijing Olympics ceremony can’t compete with the mass games organized by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The show is held several times a week and welcomes tourists from all over the World, including the US, in one of the most isolated and despised country on earth. The well-called « mass games » are designed to emphasize group dynamics rather than individual performances as the supreme emblem of communism. Prepared by hundred of thousands performers all along the year, after their classes for the youngest of them, they are entirely dedicated to the NK’s leader Kim Jong Il and his deceased father Kim Il Sung, considered as the « Eternal president » and « sun of the 21st century »…
In the surroundings of Pyongyang's May Day giant Stadium, two girls are running to perform for the Arirang show. They are already dressed in their gymnastic outfits, as well as some 100,000 others who participate to the performance. They all come to honour their self-proclaimed « dear leader » Kim Jong Il, after a very hard and gruelling training, since their earliest age. Yet, it has been many years that Kim Jong Il has not shown up, formally for business reasons. But officials now admit the western medias’ assertions of illness. Anyways, Kim Jong Il or not, the mass games are held every year in Pyongyang, as a means for the regime to show to the entire world the country’s strength and good shape. To reach this sole purpose, not less than 100,000 people are involved in a choreographed show of simultaneous dancing and gymnastics. Many symbols are displayed by thousands of trained athlets, whether they are adults or even children. Hand over their heart, the young pupils sing in chorus "We are the happiest children in the world", one of the famous propaganda songs in North Korea. Many dancers make movements either with ribbons or colourful flowers named « kimjonglias » after the leader Kim Jong Il. All along the show, a live band plays a ceremonious music.
On the background, some 20,000 young koreans sit on the terraces, facing the spectators. They flip coloured cards at a high speed to form a fresco of animated and detailed images, changing from one to another. Each time they turn the page to create a new giant picture, they cry out. It creates a awe-inspiring atmosphere, as the shout is mixed with the noise of thousands of pages turned at the same moment. The figures are stunning : to compose these images, 2000 children are needed to make only one soldier, 20,000 for a north korean flag. Hiding a much more grim reality, the panels represent Pyongyang enlightened by night, wheat fields ready for harvest, scientists at work, atoms as symbols of the nuclear bomb and others for the reunification of two Koreas. One of the North Korea’s myths (history according to them) is recounted by the means of a huge image made by thousands of children. It represents the two pistols reportedly used by Kim Il Sung, when he founded the Anti-Japanese People’s Guerrilla Army in 1932. When the pistols appear, the audience applauses loudly. Among them, many soldiers attend the show as the ultimate award after years of good and faithful service.The thousands and thousands of boys and girls involved create a giant mass movement in the stadium which leaves the public stunned. These talented performers are used to that kind of performance: in North Korea they have to dance, sing, jump and spin around as many times as there are celebrations, always in praise of their leaders. There are mainly two sorts of shows. The first one is the classical artistic show, named "Arirang" after the famous korean folk song (whose story sometimes changes, but most often recounts the legend of a disappointed woman who hopes that her lover will return to her –metaphor of the break-up with South Korea). The second one is a more political show, which was untitled in 2008 "Prosper our country" and intended to show the country’s greatest achievements and its struggle against the foreign oppressors.
The show continues in the same way for one hour. Thereafter, the thousands of people present vanish in the dark and silent streets of Pyongyang, which contrast with the flood of lights and music in the stadium. Within the space of a few hours, it gives us a a strange feeling, between the real and unreal, of another universe both terrifying and fantastic.
Dans toute la ville, les publicités d’Arirang (« Grande représentation gymnastique et artistique de masse », « Bienvenue à Pyongyang » etc.) mettent le profane en garde …Entre août et octobre, a lieu l’une des plus grandes et impressionnantes représentations au monde. Le ton est donné : pas même la cérémonie des Jeux de Pékin ne peut rivaliser avec les mass games organisés par la République Démocratique Populaire de Corée (RDPC). Le spectacle se tient plusieurs fois par semaine et accueille des touristes du monde entier, y compris des Etats-Unis, dans l’un des pays les plus isolés et méprisés sur terre. Les biens nommés mass games (« mouvements de masse») sont conçus pour mettre en avant les dynamiques de groupe plutôt que les performances individuelles comme emblème suprême du communisme. Préparés par des centaines de milliers d’artistes tout au long de l’année, après les cours pour les plus jeunes d’entre eux, les jeux sont entièrement dédiés au leader de la Corée du Nord, Kim Jong Il, et feu son père Kim Il Sung, considéré comme l’ « Eternel président » et « soleil du 21ème siècle »…
Aux environs du Stade géant May Day de Pyongyang, deux filles courent pour participer au spectacle de Arirang. Elles sont déjà en costume de gymnastique, tout comme quelque 100 000 autres qui participent à la représentation. Tous viennent pour honorer leur autoproclamé « cher leader » Kim Jong Il, après un très difficile et éprouvant entraînement, depuis leur plus jeune âge. Pourtant, cela fait plusieurs années que Kim Jong Il ne s’est pas montré, formellement pour des raisons professionnelles. Mais des officiels admettent les assertions des médias occidentaux sur sa maladie. Quoi qu’il en soit, Kim Jong Il ou pas, les jeux de masse ont lieu chaque année à Pyongyang, comme moyen pour le régime de montrer au monde entier la puissance et bonne santé du pays. Pour atteindre ce seul but, pas moins de 100 000 personnes sont engagées dans une chorégraphie de danses et gymnastiques synchronisées. De nombreux symboles sont affichés par des milliers d’athlètes entraînés, qu’il s’agisse d’adultes ou même d’enfants. Main sur le cœur, les jeunes élèves chantent en chœur « Nous sommes les enfants les plus heureux du monde », l’une des chansons de propagande les plus connues en Corée du Nord. De nombreux danseurs font des mouvements avec des rubans ou avec des fleurs colorées appelées « kimjonglias », du nom du leader Kim Jong Il. Tout le long du spectacle, un orchestre joue une musique solennelle.
À l’arrière-plan, quelque 20 000 jeunes coréens sont assis sur les gradins, faisant face aux spectateurs. Ils retournent des cartes colorées à une grande vitesse pour former une fresque d’images animées et détaillées, changeant de l’une à l’autre. Chaque fois qu’ils tournent la page pour créer une nouvelle illustration, ils crient. Cela crée une atmosphère impressionnante, le cri étant mêlé avec le bruit de milliers de pages tournées au même moment. Les chiffres sont stupéfiants : pour composer ces images, 2000 enfants sont nécessaires pour faire un seul soldat, 20 000 pour un drapeau de la Corée du Nord. Cachant une réalité bien plus dure, les panneaux représentent Pyongyang éclairée la nuit, des champs de blé prêt à être récolté, des scientifiques au travail, des atomes comme symboles de la bombe nucléaire et d’autres pour la réunification des deux Corées. L’un des mythes de Corée du Nord (ou histoire selon eux) est relaté au moyen d’une image gigantesque faite par des milliers d’enfants. Elle représente les deux pistolets que Kim Il Sung aurait utilisés quand il a fondé l’armée de guérilla populaire anti-japonaise en 1932. Lorsque les deux pistolets apparaissent, le public applaudit bruyamment. Parmi eux, de nombreux soldats assistent au spectacle comme récompense ultime après des années de bons et loyaux services. Les milliers et milliers de garçons et de filles participant créent un mouvement de masse géant dans le stade, qui laisse le public ébahi. Ces artistes talentueux sont coutumiers de ce type de représentation : en Corée du Nord ils doivent danser, chanter, sauter et virevolter autant de fois qu’il y a de célébrations, toujours à la gloire de leurs chefs. Il existe principalement deux sortes de spectacles. Le premier est le spectacle classique artistique, appelé « Arirang » d’après la célèbre chanson folklorique coréenne (dont l’histoire quelques fois change, mais qui raconte le plus souvent la légende d’une femme déçue qui espère que son amant lui reviendra –métaphore de la séparation avec la Corée du Sud). Le second est un spectacle plus politique, qui était intitulé en 2008 « Que prospère notre pays » et qui tentait de montrer les plus grandes réalisations du pays et sa lutte contre les oppresseurs étrangers.
Le spectacle continue de cette façon pendant une heure. Ensuite, les milliers de personnes présentes disparaissent dans les rues sombres et silencieuses de Pyongyang, ce qui contraste avec le déluge de lumières et de musique dans le stade. En l’espace de quelques heures, cela nous donne un étrange sentiment, entre le réel et l’irréel, d’un autre univers à la fois terrifiant et fantastique.
© Eric Lafforgue