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Every country has a flag. A flag is a rectangle of coloured
cloth that can be held up or fixed to a pole. However, these
pieces of cloth are very important to us. The pattern and
the colours are special to each country and the flag is shared
by everyone in the country and is a sign of belonging.
Flags play a prominent role in the identity of communities
and are a common feature in many towns and villages throughout
Northern Ireland. Over the next few issues of the Orange Standard,
the Youth Section will study some flags and how they are to
be flown.
This month, the Youth Section will study the National Flag
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
most commonly known as the Union Jack.
Its construction and how to use it?
The Union Jack, is a combination of the three national flags
of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The English flag, the banner of St. George, is white with
a vertical red cross.
The Scottish flag, the banner of St. Andrew, is blue with
a diagonal white cross.
The Irish flag, the banner of St. Patrick, is white with
a diagonal red cross.
In 1603, when James VI of Scotland became James
I of England, the Union flag was formed. The Red Cross of
St. George was placed over the White Cross of St. Andrew,
but the white ground of the English Jack was covered by the
blue of the Scottish Jack, a white margin being left around
the red cross to show the white field of St. George's flag.
In 1801, Ireland was united with England and Scotland, and
St. Patrick's flag was added to the Union flag. The Cross
of St. George with its narrow white order remained and the
crosses of St. Andrew and St. Patrick were placed side by
side with the white and red alternately uppermost, a narrow
border of white separating the red from the blue ground. Thus
was the Union Jack formed.
In flying the flag, the broad, white stripe of the Cross
of St. Andrew should be next to the masthead. The Union Jack
must always be flown above any other flag on the same staff.
When crossed with another flag for wall display, the Union
Jack should be on the flag's right with the staff in front
of that of the other flag. To fly the flag at half-mast, lower
it a distance equal to its width from the masthead. In a group
of flags, the Union Jack should always be placed highest and
in the centre.
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