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HomeThe NAVA Flag

The flag of the North American Vexillological Association consists of three triangles separated by a white inverted chevron.

The hoist and fly right triangles are red and the isosceles triangle between the arms of the chevron is dark blue.

The hypotenuses of the red triangles correspond to lines drawn from the upper hoist and upper fly corners of the flag to the center point of the lower edge of the flag and form the outer edges of the chevron.

The base of the blue triangle is as long as the flag is wide and its legs, forming the inner lines of the chevron, are drawn parallel to the hypotenuses of the red triangles.  The shades of red and blue correspond to Pantone Matching System (PMS) numbers 193 and 281.  The width-to-length ratio of the flag is 2:3.


The selection process is described in the first issue (October 1967) of NAVA News:

The Flag Committee composed of Gary Grahl, Tim Hill, and Linda Stock has chosen as the flag of the North American Vexillological Association the design as shown to the right. The field has the colors red, white, and blue… The white V (an "inverted chevronel" to heraldic purists) stands, of course, for vexillology.

The flag was designed by Harry Manogg, a book dealer in Kankakee, Illinois, who won the NAVA flag design contest held earlier that year.


See Flag Research Quarterly #11, pp. 20–22, for more information.

Original drawing of the NAVA flag from 1967

The Approval Process

NAVA flag

 

The November 18, 1967 annual meeting minutes clarify that the flag committee’s selection of a design and the manufacture of that design occurred before the first annual meeting and the adoption of NAVA’s bylaws.

The design was not approved by the membership or the executive board by a formal vote, but was instead the subject of a resolution expressing the Association’s appreciation for its design.

The following resolution was adopted, on a motion by Whitney Smith, seconded by Robert Gauron:

 

"Whereas Harry Manogg designed the flag which represents the North American Vexillological Association; and

Whereas a Committee consisting of Linda Stock, Gary Grahl, and Tim Hill undertook the task of choosing this design from among those submitted; and

Whereas the Dettra Flag Co. manufactured two examples of this flag and made a gift of them to the Association; then

Be it resolved that the North American Vexillological Association extends to Mrs. Stock and to Messrs. Manogg, Grahl, and Hill a vote of sincere thanks for their part in creating this uniquely appropriate flag; and that it hereby expresses its special gratitude to the Dettra Flag Co. for graciously providing the Association with the two handsome copies of the flag."

 

In 1991, the flag’s description was incorporated into the Bylaws.