Last modified: 2000-01-28 by dov gutterman
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![[Flag of Puerto Rico]](../images/pr.gif)
by Antonio Martins and Zeljko Heimer, 21
September 1999
See also:
From: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/8070/flag.htm
:
The National Flag is the highest expression of Nationality and
pride for the Motherland. Back in 1511, Spain issues an official
flag for Puerto Rico, based in the Coat of Arms authorized by the
spanish monarchs.
On December 22, 1895, a group of 59 Puerto Ricans gather at
"Chimney Corner Hall" in New York City and organizes a
political group, attached to the Cuban Revolutionary Party to
organize the Pro-Independence movement in Puerto Rico, still
under Spanish ruling. According to the meeting acts, the flag
"...is same as the cuban, but the color stripes are
inverted..."
There are different theories regarding the origins of our flag,
one of them names Manuel Besosa as the designer , in a letter
written by his daughter she says, "...my father asked me
to sew together some pieces of cloth, white, red and blue that he
brought himself , this tiny flag had 5 alterned stripes, red and
white, and a triangle with a five point star within it...".
This is the symbolism according to the 1895 meeting:
Red Stripes - The blood from the brave warriors.
White Stripes - Victory and peace after obtaining
indepence.
Blue Triangle - Our sky and coastal waters.
White Lone Star - Our beautiful Island.
It wasn't but until 1952 that our Legislature approved the final symbolism of our flag:
Red Stripes - stands for the "blood" that
nourishes the three branches of our government; Legislative,
Executive and Judiciary.
White Stripes - represents individual liberty and the
rights that keeps in perfect balance our form of government.
Blue Triangle - stands for the "Republican Government",
represented by the three branches.
White Lone Star - represents "The Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico".
Dov Gutterman , 28 December 1998
Puerto Rico's flag is 100 years old on 22 December. The NANDO News service on the net had a short report on the celebrations a few days ago. Some lines from the report:
"The flag was created in 1895, by the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, which advocated independence for Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spanish rule." (...) "Its design is the same as the Cuban flag, but with the colors inverted. It has five horizontal stripes, alternating red and white, with a white star on a blue triangle in the extreme left." (...) "Before 1952, police arrested anyone displaying the flag on charges of insubordination against the United States. When Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth that year, the flag became the island's official emblem."
Jan Oskar Engene, 21 December 1995
Last night I saw on the news another attempt for a referendum
on statehood or independence (or maintain status quo) will be
held in Puerto Rico this year. In the news clip there was a flag-frenzy
of US flags, Puerto Rican flags, and at some (to me) UFE's. There
were so many flags, it was tough to distinguish, but I think the
UFE's are:
1. Green, white cross, as in St. George's cross (I'm pretty sure
of this one).
2. Current Puerto Rican flag, but replace star with a cowboy hat
(reliable viewing).
Rob Raeside, 5 March 1998
Your other flags are flags used by political parties:
Anna Stone Jimanez, 31 October 1998
![[Governor General's flag]](../images/pr-1947g.gif)
by Steve Stringfellow, 12 August 1997
I have this book, which I have mentioned before, with the
information that I think is mistaken. The book is titled: FLAGS
OF ALL NATIONS by Cleveland H. Smith and Gertrude R. Taylor, pub.
by Thomas Y. Crowell Compnay, NYC, NY, 1946, 1947.
The book shows the rounded shield of Puerto Rico on a white field,
in the center, as the Governor-General's flag.
Steve Stringfellow, 12 August 1997
.gif)
from: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/8070/shield.htm
From: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/8070/shield.htm
:
Our Coat of Arms uses symbols of our history, culture and
religion. It was first recognized by the Spanish Crown in 1511,
but it wasn't until March 9,1905 that al law, establishing the
official Coat of Arms was signed. After numerous investigations
and amendments to that statute, the final version was approved
and signed into law in 1976.The green background stands for our
vegetation, our hopes and courtesy. Within the background there's
a lamb on top of the Book of Revelations, holding the seven seals
of The Apocalypse. The lamb symbolizes peace, purity, humble,
integrity, and holds a white flag with a red cross. The flag
means "truce", or knowledge to stop fighting. Both, the
lamb and the flag, are symbols of "John The Baptist"
or San Juan Bautista, the original name given by the Spanish
settlers.
The rim is covered by 16 symbols: castles signifying the "Kingdom
of Castilla" and lions, representing the "Kingdom of
Leon" and a flag, with both, lions and castles, representing
the unity of both kingdoms, also shows the "Cross of
Jerusalem" used by the Monarchs to expel the "non
christians" from the Spanish peninsula. The crown on top
symbolizes the "Royalty" who authorized this shield. To
the right, an "F" for Fernando, to the left, a "?"
for Ysabel, the King and Queen of the Spanish Empire. The motto
reads: "Joannes Est Nomem Ejus", it means "John
is it name", the original name of the island.
Our Coat of Arms is the oldest in use in America, other countries
created a new Coat when they became independent, ours is the only
one that remembers the Spanish presence in the "New World"
or America.
Dov Gutterman , 28 December 1998
Puerto Rico does not have an Air Force but it does have an Air
National Guard. I have not been able to find an illustration of
any roundel for it on the web, but did find several sites selling
decals for Puerto Rico Air National Guard markings, so they must
have some sort of unique insignia.
Ned Smith , 19 April 1999