| v> | | | | familiar symbol and is used on many other flags |
| Flags have a rich history and heritage. Flags trace | | | | such as Australia. The flag of Canada is a red |
| their genesis to the use of staffs or vexilloids, | | | | maple leaf flanked by stripes of red. This flag |
| that were commonly used to lead men into battle. | | | | design was officially adopted in 1965, although the |
| These staffs were decorated with symbols and | | | | maple leaf was a Canadian symbol for many |
| other items, giving the soldiers a feeling of | | | | years before that. The two stripes are said to |
| camaraderie. With time, these staffs were | | | | represent the Pacific and Atlantic oceans which |
| adorned with silk and other types of material. This | | | | flank the country. The flag of Barbados is an |
| is what we see now as the modern day 'Flag'. | | | | interesting one. It is represented by two stripes |
| Now every country has its own flag as an | | | | of blue on either side which represent the ocean |
| identity. These are used to stake claim over a | | | | and the sky, and the center which is yellow |
| new land or a symbol of presence - flag on the | | | | represents Barbados' beaches. The interesting |
| moon by Neil Armstrong. Flags have been used | | | | part is the trident in the center, which represents |
| for centuries to signify different things. | | | | Neptune. The trident is broken, which symbolizes |
| They can be used to signify civilizations, ideas, | | | | Barbados' split from Britain in 1966 when the flag |
| groups, and nations. Flags were not used to | | | | was made official. The Israeli flag has blue and |
| symbolize a nation until the eighteenth century. | | | | white stripes. They are the same color used in |
| Today, every nation has their own flag, each rich | | | | Jewish prayer shawls. The Star of David takes up |
| with symbolism. This symbolism often only means | | | | the center, another familiar Jewish religious |
| something to the inhabitants of that nation. The | | | | symbol. Their flag became official in 1948. Flags all |
| stars and stripes, the national flag of the United | | | | over the world express their values through |
| states of America reached its current form in | | | | symbolism and sometimes religion. Often they |
| 1960 when Hawaii joined the USA. The flag was | | | | carry religious sayings or symbols that tell the |
| conceived in 1777 and since then has seen various | | | | world about their countries. As territories change |
| transformations. The stripes symbolize the first 13 | | | | hands throughout the world, or two nations |
| states that made up the USA and each state is | | | | become one, new flags are designed. Two of the |
| represented by a star, thus showing 50 stars on | | | | most recent and recognizable are the flags |
| the flag. This symbolizes the unity of all states. | | | | representing the United Nations and the European |
| Great Britain's flag is also called the Union Jack. It | | | | Union. People love their national flags and are |
| has been the official flag since 1801. The flag | | | | proud of what they express. The flag tells who |
| symbolizes the three different countries that are | | | | the people are and what they value. Flags have |
| united; England, Scotland, and Ireland. Today it only | | | | proudly flown for thousands of years and will |
| represents Northern Ireland, as the rest of Ireland | | | | continue to fly throughout the world forever. |
| became its own state in 1920. The Union Jack is a | | | | |