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The Islander Newspaper Ascension Island
  Issue No. 2075 Online Edition Tuesday 4 October 2011 
Home | Categories | Government Please tell us what you think of this article. Tell a friend Print Friendly

Ascension : A Flag for Ascension at last?
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 02.09.2010 (Article Archived on 16.09.2010)

Ascension is unusual among Britain’s Overseas Territories in not having its own flag. Just looking at the territories within the South Atlantic, our sister islands St Helena and Tristan each have their own unique flags, as does the Falklands.

 

Ascension is unusual among Britain’s Overseas Territories in not having its own flag. Just looking at the territories within the South Atlantic, our sister islands St Helena and Tristan each have their own unique flags, as does the Falklands. Even the unpopulated South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands has its own. Meanwhile Ascension still flies the Union flag by default, which may confuse many of our visitors into thinking they are actually in England!

 

So what do we need to do to be able to fly our own flag? The first step is to agree an outline design locally and then seek the Governor’s approval. An application can then be made to the College of Arms in the UK, who will determine whether the design meets approval heraldic guidelines before applying to HM the Queen for a Royal Warrant.

 

Efforts have been made in the past to agree locally what design to put forward, but differences as to what the flag should look like held up progress. More recently some design concepts have been discussed from time to time with the Island Council, resulting in the two designs shown on the front cover of this week’s Islander. The Council has agreed that it is now time to invite comments from the public, so now is your chance to let us know what you think.

 

Do you prefer Flag A? This is inspired by the natural features and wildlife of Ascension. The green for Green Mountain and the brown for the many cinder cones around the island, a yellow band to depict our beaches, and a sea bird, land crab and turtle, all symbolic of Ascension Island. This design, without “supporters” etc, follows the St Helena model.

 

Or Flag B? This depicts a geometric Green Mountain, together with a Fairey Swordfish, the first aircraft to land on the newly constructed airstrip in 1942. Together with the triangular shape of the mountain this also forms the letter A for Ascension. This design also features a turtle and bird as “supporters” – following the flag format of some territories such as Tristan.

 

In either case it should be remembered that these are still quite rough designs and whichever design is chosen will be improved upon by the College of Arms before it becomes a flag.

 

Please let us know which design you think is best, A or B. You can send your answer and any comments to flag4ascension@ascension.gov.ac or in writing to the Administrator’s Office in an envelope marked “Flag Design”.

Administrator’s Office

 

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