Flag of the United States of Quentin

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Flag of the United States of Quentin
Flag of Flag of the United States of Quentin
Official Name National and Federal Flag of the United States of Quentin
Nickname Old Steve, Villager's Pride
Use National Flag and Ensign
Adopted February 2nd, 1830
Design Three stripes, top to bottom yellow, green, brown, with two blue stars in top corners. Coat of arms featuring villager, hoe, and axe, along with large grey star at center.
The Flag of the United States of Quentin, also frequently referred to as the Quentinian Flag or the United States of Quentin Flag, is the national flag of the United States of Quentin. The nation's flag is a rectangle shaped banner consisting of three equal stripes, one brown, one green, and one tan, representing the first 3 original states of the nation, the Grassland Area, Snowland, and Desert Area respectively. In the top two corners there are blue colored stars outlined in white, with a third star in the center of the flag which is grey. These stars also represent the first three states. Finally, behind the center star is the head of a person, along with a crossed axe and hoe. These tools represent the farming and lumber origins of the nation. Nicknames for the flag include Old Steve and the Villager's Pride. The United States of Quentin officially adopted the flag in 1830, though it was in use since 1805 by the Territories of Quentin, which preceded the nation.

History

The flag was originally created in 1805 for the Territories of Quentin, the predecessor to the USQ, and was the official flag of the Territories throughout its existence, flying alongside the Flag of the Megatridimensional Order. In 1823 the flag flew alone in the Territories after the Quentinian Declaration of Independence was released. Throughout the Quentinian War for Independence the flag was used by the Territories in battle, and when the new nation officially won its independence in 1830, it was designated as the official flag of the new country by the Interim Assembly of the Independent Quentinian State. The flag was originally designed in 1805 by Steve Maxxsmith, a local designer in Baltimore. The Territorial Assembly immediately accepted the design, and with the permission of Maxxsmith and a unanimous vote, the flag went into official use that same year. The flag has been used since then, and it is one of the most sacred national symbols of the nation, perhaps the most sacred. Throughout the nation, desecrating the flag is legal, however in the Multi-Logan State it is illegal by state law, the origins of a continuing dispute.

Past Attempted Redesigns

The flag, though it is one of the most sacred and respected symbols in the nation, has been criticized by numerous state governments and critics who say the flag does not represent the entire nation, and only includes the first three states. This has created numerous past attempts by state governments and others to change the flag's design to include either 7 more stars, add 7 more stripes, though they would be the same color, or both. Other proposals include ridding the flag of the stars except for the central star, and adding a ring of ten stars around the seal in the center of the flag, which would be blue colored.

None of these attempts have succeeded, however there has been some momentum generated in the past for such movements. In 1921, the Chip Area State Legislature passed a resolution to fly a variant version of the flag, which would include the central seal plus ten more stars, all over the state. This gathered much participation in the state, and state buildings flew the flag for nearly 2 months. However, in August of 1921 the federal Department of State issued a warning to the state to remove the flags, as they were not an official symbol the nation and violated, "the tradition, law, and honor of the nation." The DOS added, "Flying the flag is a severe desecration of your state's honor and stature in the world, and all attempts to continue this piracy and treason of the highest order shall result in swift and immediate forfeiture of your state." The forfeiture of state warning is the highest warning the DOS can distribute, and the DOS gave the CA two days to reverse the proclamation, which they did only 8 hours after the release of the warning.

The 1921 incident garnered the most support for the redesign of the flag, and mainly because of the traditionalist attitude of Quentinian society and the large historical value placed upon the flag, it is not likely to be changed in the near future.

Symbolism

The flag of the United States of Quentin is the most sacred national symbol in the country, and great historical and moral importance is placed upon the design and symbolism of the flag. It is flown on all national holidays, at nearly all government locations, and at embassies and foreign locations, as well as in many private places around the nation.

Desecration

Under the United States of Quentin Constitution, desecration of the flag, which includes burning, tearing, dirtying, or otherwise damaging or stripping the virtue of the flag, is legal as a part of free speech. However, the Multi-Logan State has strict state laws regarding desecration of the flag, as well as restrictions of free speech when it comes to speaking badly of the flag and many other national symbols. The issue is part of an ongoing dispute which has been at the center of national politics recently. The laws state that burning or desecration of the flag in the state will result in ten years of jail time, and speaking badly of the flag or any other national symbol will merit up to one year in jail. The dispute has become more prominent especially after the Asperian Roofball War, which increase nationalism and national pride, especially in the Multi-Logan State. Currently the desecration of the flag issue is under review by the federal Department of State, and the department is expected to make a decision on May 3rd, 2020.

Design

The Quentinian flag consists of a rectangular shape, with three stripes of tan, green, and brown. Tan represents the Desert Area, and is placed at the top of the flag, while green represents the Grassland Area at the middle, and brown represents Snowland, at the bottom. These three states were the first three of the nation. There are also two stars in the top right and left corners of the flag, which are a shade of bluish-green, outlined in white. The specific color of these stars was chosen by Steve Maxxsmith, the designer of the flag, first for its neutrality from the colors of the three original states. He also chose the color for its look, as he reportedly tried numerous other colors before settling on the bluish-green. The star is also notable for its use on many state flags and government emblems today. Finally, at the center of the flag is the Quentinian Coat of Arms set against the backdrop of a gray star, which added with the blue stars adds to three total stars for the three original states. The arms consists of a villager head, representing the people of the nation, and a crossed axe and hoe. The axe and hoe were chosen for their relation to the main industries in the country at the time of its design, logging and farming, and their color was chosen for its resemblance to the top left and right stars.

When displayed, the flag often includes a small but precise black outline around the flag, which attaches to the flagpole via string.

Display and Use

Flag Etiquette

The National Organization of the Quentinian Flag is a private organization dedicated to the preservation, education, and good treatment of the Quentinian flag in the country, and its NOQF Code of the Flag is the main source for etiquette when handling and displaying the flag. One rule of etiquette is that the flag must never be dipped to any person or thing, unless reciprocating the action from a foreign ship when at sea. The flag is also not supposed to touch the ground directly. Unlike in other countries, the flag is allowed to fly until almost completely unidentifiable, although it must be replaced at that point. Once a flag is replaced after being worn down or unusable for other reasons, it must be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning at sea or cutting into small pieces, then burning.
The vertical variant of the Quentinian flag, used for hanging or displaying vertically.

Display on Vehicles

Display on nearly all vehicles which are traveling horizontally is taken into account by the rules of the organization as well. If the flag is an actual flag, and not a sticker or stamp, then it must be affixed so that it can blow with the wind. If it is a stamp or sticker, it can be affixed to any part of a vehicle. The flag affixed to most space vehicles, which travel vertically, must be affixed in the vertical manner of the flag, as seen at right. This vertical style of the flag was designed by the organization, and is currently in official use by the federal government as a vertical variant. This is used on all spacecraft, as well as in situations when the flag would be hanging vertically.

Display on Uniforms

Places of Continuous Display

By presidential executive orders, Congressional acts, or by tradition, flags are continuously flown at numerous certain locations.

  • Numerous locations throughout the Tennomore Mountains, 7 in total, which are some of the largest flags continuously flown.
  • All federal facilities.
  • All public libraries and educational facilities in the nation.
  • At all armed forces recruiting stations and permanent buildings.
  • At all foreign embassies and foreign federal locations.
  • On all territorial government buildings and at all ports in the territories.

The flag is displayed at all federal government facilities, and foreigner Doobie Brian said of the nation in 1964, "You can't go seven feet without seeing a flag. They're all around, and you can't look at a building without seeing the flag either put on it, or put up right beside it."

Occasions of Mass Display

The Quentinian flag is displayed on many national holidays throughout the year, where numerous citizens will fly one or numerous Quentinian flags to celebrate these occasions. No decree or law has required flags be displayed on these days, however tradition has dictated that flags are flown by millions of people around the country on these days. These are:

  • January 1st: Inauguration Day, when all government officials in the country are inaugurated. Especially on federal inauguration dates will flags be flown.
  • March 15th: Unification Day, the day when all territories and states of the USQ became a part of the union.
  • August 30th: Defense Day, celebrating the armed forces of the nation.

Half-Staff

The flag of the United States of Quentin is displayed at half-staff as a sign of respect or mourning in the nation. Nationwide, the action is proclaimed by an executive order of the President. Statewide, it can be proclaimed by the Governor of the state. Unlike in other nations of Venturia, half-staff orders are taken extremely seriously, and nearly all flags are flown at half-staff by civilians and the government alike. To not do so is frowned upon socially, and is seen as a gesture of disrespect to the event. Below are instances of events when half-staff proclamations are made:

  • At the state level, the death of a sitting Governor.
  • For 7 days, the death of a sitting member of Congress
  • For 2 days after the death of a former President, GTNEC, Decider, or Congressperson.
  • For 7 days after a declaration of war involving the USQ, and 7 days after the end of a war involving the USQ.

Related Flags

  • Flag of the Kumar Area, a state in the USQ, based off of the colors of the Quentinian flag. They are rearranged, and the flag includes three white stars, although inspiration was taken from the Quentinian flag.
The Flag of the Kumar Area.
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