# What is this odd flag? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576 "2024-07-22T02:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/1 "2024-07-22T02:49:38Z")
We saw an odd flag in a suburban/rural area, flying on a pole above an estate or farm. The oddest aspect to this was that it was flying _above_ an American flag, which seemed somewhat heretical per American flag ettiquette (though, this was a private residence, so they can mostly do what they want). I cannot seem to figure out what it was. The vexillological description would be something like _a field argent, a half-canton azure bearing a (device) gules_ – or, in normal person terms, it was mostly white, with a small blue square in the upper left (pole side) that had something red in it (possibly a star, we could not make it out). Does anyone have any idea what this would be? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/2 "2024-07-22T02:54:30Z")
The first Google Images hit I got for “white flag with blue field and red” was something called “the Christian flag”, which I suppose could be described as _argent, a canton azure charged with a Christian cross gules_. [![](https://baptistnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ChristianFlag-720x400.jpg) ](https://baptistnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ChristianFlag-720x400.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/3 "2024-07-22T03:38:59Z")
And it would make sense that some folks would fly that above the US flag. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/4 "2024-07-22T03:43:06Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > We saw an odd flag in a suburban/rural area, flying on a pole above an estate or farm. The oddest aspect to this was that it was flying _above_ an American flag, which seemed somewhat heretical per American flag ettiquette (though, this was a private residence, so they can mostly do what they want). Maybe you should point out to them proper flag etiquette. [NB: My dad was a Naval officer. I was brought up to follow protocol.] ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/5 "2024-07-22T04:34:46Z")
That makes sense. It was east of Winlock WA. Not out of place. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/6 "2024-07-22T04:37:02Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > It was east of Winlock WA. Well, now you’re gonna have to explain why the hell you decided to venture into rural Lewis County in the first place. Just getting off the freeway is madness in and of itself. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/7 "2024-07-22T04:40:47Z")
I have a tremendous dislike for the freeways. The competitive driving style makes me very unhappy. The handy thing about driving through there is you can do it without having to stop much. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/8 "2024-07-22T04:42:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I have a tremendous dislike for the freeways. Bah. The only redeeming quality Lewis County has going for it is that the speed limit on I-5 is 70 instead of 60, so you get to spend slightly less time on your way to Portland and back to civilization. 🙂 Well, that and they have a Burgerville in Centralia. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/9 "2024-07-22T04:47:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > and back to civilization You talk as though this “civilization” is an unalloyed _good_ thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/10 "2024-07-22T04:48:00Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > You talk as though this “civilization” is an unalloyed _good_ thing. Compared to whatever the hell that Uncle Sam billboard is supposed to represent? You bet it is. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/11 "2024-07-22T05:03:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Compared to whatever the hell that Uncle Sam billboard is supposed to represent? You bet it is. Ironically, by not taking the freeway, I never have to look at that thing. I go where people live, so they are generally a lot less shouty, because they have to live there. ---
**Author:** ![Plutonium\_Chef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/plutonium_chef/32/11211_2.png) [@Plutonium\_Chef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plutonium_Chef)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/12 "2024-07-22T07:00:16Z")
Decades ago, I read a pamphlet on U.S. flag etiquette. (No cite — sorry.) According to it, USN vessels are allowed to fly the Christian flag _above the U.S. flag_ while services are in progress. (I’d ask my dad the Chief about it; but the Chief of Chiefs recalled him seven years ago.) So, if this is true, it might be acceptable for a private residence to do likewise, maybe even all day on Sunday. And if it’s _unacceptable_, I’m inclined to let the Chief of Chiefs deal with the matter… ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/13 "2024-07-22T07:20:01Z")
> [@Plutonium\_Chef](#): > > the Chief of Chiefs …the ship’s quartermaster? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/14 "2024-07-22T10:28:28Z")
“Chief of the boat” as they say. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/15 "2024-07-23T19:45:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The oddest aspect to this was that it was flying _above_ an American flag… Around here I see a lot of Trump flags flying higher that the American flag, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/16 "2024-07-23T23:16:14Z")
I would move. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2024, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/17 "2024-07-24T18:13:08Z")
Don’t disagree but unfortunately not in a position to. ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/18 "2024-07-26T02:47:07Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The oddest aspect to this was that it was flying _above_ an American flag, which seemed somewhat heretical per American flag ettiquette. > [@Smapti](#): > > The first Google Images hit I got for “white flag with blue field and red” was something called “the Christian flag” One Nation, **Under** God. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/19 "2024-07-26T14:00:49Z")
That’s certainly how they think about it. It’s interesting to recall that the phrase ", under god, " wasn’t in the Pledge of Allegiance until the last religious wacko revival in the USA around 1850. Then they wedged that in there, utterly ruining the meter of what had been pretty good poetry. They also stuck “In god we trust” on the currency and coinage at about the same time. Neither of those things were there before. Both represent an unconstitutional encroachment of a single religion into the affairs of our required-to-be irreligious government. But they’re sure popular with the religious crowd. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576/20 "2024-07-26T14:44:24Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s interesting to recall that the phrase ", under god, " wasn’t in the Pledge of Allegiance until the last religious wacko revival in the USA around 1850. Wrong time. The phrase was added to the Pledge in 1954. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > They also stuck “In god we trust” on the currency and coinage at about the same time. That was added to coins starting in 1864. It wasn’t added to currency until the 1950s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-flag/1004576.md?page=2)