US Flag Oceanside

Memorial Day 2017

Memorial Day – Monday May 29





Kensington Memorial Day Parade(photos from kensington memorial day parade)

Nylon or Poly? Which Flag is the One for You?

Nylon or Poly

Look and Feel:

Frequency of Flight:


For example:



Semaphore: NOT a store at the mall


The current flag semaphore system uses two short poles with square flags, which a signalman holds in different positions to signal letters of the alphabet and numbers. The signalman holds one pole in each hand, and extends each arm in one of eight possible directions. Except for in the rest position, the flags do not overlap. The flags are colored differently based on whether the signals are sent by sea or by land. At sea, the flags are colored red and yellow (the Oscar flag), while on land, they are white and blue (the Papa flag). Flags are not required; their purpose is to make the characters more obvious.



Some surf-side rescue companies, such as the Ocean City Maryland Beach Patrol, use semaphore flags to communicate between lifeguards

The letters of the flag semaphore are also a common artistic motif. One enduring example is the peace symbol, adopted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1958 from the original logo created by a commercial artist named Gerald Holtom from Twickenham, London. Holtom designed the logo for use on a protest march on the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, near Newbury, England. On 4 April 1958, the march left Trafalgar Square for rural Berkshire, carrying Ban the Bomb placards made by Holtom’s children making it the first use of the symbol. Originally, it was purple and white and signified a combination of the semaphoric letters N and D, standing for “nuclear disarmament,” circumscribed by a circle. Famously, the album cover for The Beatles 1965 album Help! was to have portrayed the four band members spelling “HELP” in semaphore with their arms, though the result was deemed aesthetically unpleasing, and the band’s arms were instead positioned in a meaningless but aesthetically pleasing arrangement for the final version of the album art.

Vexillolophile: Do you know one?

Vexillology is the scientific study of flags and related emblems. It is concerned with research into flags of all kinds, both modern and historical, the creation of a body of practice for flag design and usage, and of a body of theory of flag development. Vexillology seeks to understand and explain the important part played by flags in the modern world.

The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum, meaning “flag”, and the suffix -logy, meaning “study of”. The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era; its name is a diminutive form of the word vela meaning sail, and thus literally means “little sail”. Unlike most modern flags, which are suspended from a pole or mast along a vertical side, the square vexillum was suspended from a horizontal crossbar along its top side, which was attached to a spear.

Vexillolophile image example

The term was coined in 1957 by the American scholar Whitney Smith, the author of many books and articles on the subject. It was originally considered a sub-discipline of heraldry, and is still occasionally seen as such. It is sometimes considered a branch of semiotics. It is formally defined in the FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques) constitution as “the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge.” A person who studies flags is a vexillologist; a person who designs flags is a vexillographer; and any person who simply likes, admires, or enjoys flags is a vexillolophile.

American Flags should be made IN AMERICA

Made in China American Flag

Check your labels. Sunward Flags Flag are 100% Made in America.

As of 2014, American flags made in foreign lands are no longer flying over military bases.

Under a new law signed as part of the 2014 omnibus appropriations bill, any flag purchased by the Defense Department is required to be 100 percent made in America. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who wrote the legislation, said he did so for economic as well as symbolic reasons.

“I thought it was appalling our Department of Defense would have flags made in other countries,” Thompson, told CBS San Francisco shortly after the legislation was signed into law. “But it’s also important because we need to be making more in America.”

Dale Coots, marketing manager for Annin Flagmakers, in Roseland, N.J., said the new legislation is a positive step, but says other issues regarding flag imports remain unresolved, including the Federal Trade Commission’s lack of enforcement on flag labeling.

“An American flag is considered a textile,” she said. “And a lot of flags that sell online don’t have any origin label, which is required under U.S. law.”

At Sunward Flag, we pride ourselves on using 100% American supplies and labor. When you purchase and fly and American Flag, it represents something. Using and displaying a Chinese made American flag isn’t illegal (as a private citizen)…or even uncommon. But isn’t it worth it to spend a little more to support American labor? It’s the principle of the matter!

In all honesty, nobody is going to stop you and demand to see the tag on your flag, but don’t you want the peace of mind of knowing that your symbol of Patriotism and America, was made using domestic materials. If you want to buy your ceramic tiles or stuffed animal clothing from China, knock yourself out but when if there’s one thing you don’t want to buy on the cheap, it’s your flag.

Support everything America stands for. Buy American. Your conscience will thank you.

Made in American image

Sunward Flag: San Diego’s Guidon Specialists

In addition to taking care of San Diego’s flag and flagpole needs, Sunward Flag also specializes in custom flags and military guidons. Now, if you’re a civilian, the term “military guidon” may be something you have never heard before. What is it? Well, allow us to shed some light….

Marine class with guidon

The significance of the guidon is that it represents the unit and its commanding officer. When the commander is in, his guidon is displayed for everyone to see. When he leaves for the day, the guidon is taken down.

It is an honor to be the guidon carrier for a unit, known as a “guidon bearer”. He or she stands in front of the unit alongside of the commander, and is the rallying point for troops to fall into formation when the order is given. In drill and ceremonies, the guidon and commander are always in front of the formation.

The guidon is a great source of pride for the unit, and several military traditions have developed around it, stemming back from ancient times. Any sort of disgrace toward the guidon is considered a dishonor of the unit as a whole, and punishment is typical. For example, should the guidon bearer drop the guidon, he must fall with it and perform punishment, often in the form of push-ups. Other units may attempt to steal the guidon to demoralize or antagonize the unit. Veteran soldiers know not to give up the guidon to anyone outside their unit, but new recruits may be tempted into relinquishing it by a superior, especially during a unit run.

Each branch of the U.S. military has their own customs and procedures…..


Army Guidon

As described in Chapter 6 of Army Regulation 840-10, guidons are swallow-tailed marker flags in branch-of-service colors, measuring 20 inches at the hoist by 27 inches at the fly, with the swallow-tail end forked 10 inches. Old guidons show letters and numerals reversed as if printed through on the reverse of the guidon. Current guidons are made so that letters and numerals read correctly on both sides.

Marine Corps

Marine Guidon

A Marine guidon is always rectangular, 22 by 28 inches, with a scarlet field and gold lettering, and an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor centered.

Recruit training units do not have any branch of service indication on their guidons; boot camp platoon guidons only display the platoon number in yellow/gold against a scarlet background. During the first phase of training, the guidon’s foreground and background colorations are exchanged, yielding a red platoon number against a yellow/gold background


Navy Guidon USS Missouri

Navy ships and squadrons may display a unit guidon while parading ashore. It measures 20 1⁄8 by 27 3⁄4 inches  with a 10 inches swallowtail, is blue with white text, and depicts a fouled anchor within a diamond. Prior to World War II, a red flag was used for naval artillery units. In addition, companies of the Brigade of Midshipmen attending the United States Naval Academy utilize a gold guidon with blue numerals.

Air Force

Air Force Guidon

In the Air Force, guidons are ultramarine blue wool and nylon, nylon, or polyester bunting, 20 by 27 inches to end of the swallowtail, and forked 10 inches. An Air Force yellow American Eagle design appears on the front of the guidon and on the reverse side as if printed through. Above the design is the designation of the parent unit; below it is the designation of the squadron. When the number of the squadron and the parent organization are the same, the lower line indicates only the alphabetical portion of the squadron designation. Numerals and lettering are yellow, from 1 3⁄4 by 3 1⁄2 inches tall, and in varying widths. Lettering and numerals appear on both sides of the guidon, reading from left to right on both sides

And there you have it. Now you know what a guidon is, and how it works. Not a bad way to start a Monday…..