Flags

The dharma chakra is a symbol representing law in Hinduism and the Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightment.

It can also be translated as wheel of doctrine or wheel of law!!

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You end up with pieces of a flag you do but this is how a flag should be cut up. Retiring Old Glory When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be "retired" with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation's flag. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate the flag, but this does not mean that one should simply drop the entire flag (intact) into a fire.

A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces. In addition, it is easier to completely incinerate the flag, if it is cut into smaller pieces. A flag should never be torn up like an old bed sheet. It should be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner. The corners of the flag should be stretched out over a table top and someone should cut the flag in half, vertically (be careful not to cut up the blue star field (see the figure). Then, place the two halves together and cut them in half, horizontally. You will end up with four pieces of flag, one being the blue star field.

NOTE: The reason we do not cut the blue star field is it represents the union of the fifty states and one should never let the union be broken.

While the Scouts are performing the flag dissection, other Scouts should start and tend a medium size, wood fire (preferably in a metal drum or incinerator). Once the flag remnants and fire are ready, you perform the following ceremony. The Scouts maintain a vigil over the fire until all traces of the flag remnants are destroyed. Then, the fire is extinguished and the ashes are buried. The burial can be completed with a moment of silence while taps is played by a bugler.

NOTE: Before accepting a flag for retirement, the recipient should obtain information about its history. For example: Where has it flown? How long? Any memorable events happen at that site? This information should be used in the ceremony.

The Hawaiian Flag History

The story of how the Hawaiian flag came about is an interesting one. Although historians may disagree on the exact details, it is settled that Kamehameha the Great (Kamehameha I) was responsible for its inception.

We can better understand the meanings behind the Hawaiian Flag by learning a little about the King who oversaw its creation. Kamehameha I ruled successfully, creating a single sovereign nation and securing recognition by worldwide major powers. Before King Kamehameha I's rule, the individual islands were governed by separate chiefs. King Kamehameha I was a skilled warrior credited with conquering and uniting the eight major Hawaiian Islands.

The King was a determined ruler, dedicated to protecting the welfare and sovereignty of his people. He did not allow non-Hawaiians to interfere in island politics, but he played the role of ambassador well and strived to form harmonious relationships and alliances. His ruling prowess and ability to be a symbol of goodwill helped the Hawaiian Islands to become an important center for industry - during his reign, fur and sandalwood trade and coffee and pineapple exporting were significantly kick-started.

Relationships with Britain - and Britain's status as a protectorate - were very important to King Kamehameha I. In 1793, a portion of the islands were ceded to the UK in communication with representative Captain Vancouver, a deal that was never really acted upon by the British. Some say today's Hawaiian flag was created after controversy surrounding the waving of both the Union Flag and American Flag. Each side opposed the flying of the other's flag, so a compromise was reached. The Hawaiian flag is notoriously seen as a melding of the U.S. and British flags. When the new Kingdom of Hawaii flag was introduced, it was not long before the UK, France, the U.S. and Japan granted their official recognition of the icon.

The Hawaiian Flag Design

In 1816, Kamehameha the Great commissioned the design to an officer of the Royal Navy. The UK influence on the design is obvious - in the left upper corner is the duplicated Union Flag, a symbol of Hawaii's alliance with the British. A second-fold meaning to the inclusion of the Union Flag is the symbolic representation of the alia, a chiefly symbol created by crossing two spears rooted with an upright spear.

The eight horizontal stripes that make up the body of the flag represent the major Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Kauai, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Niihau and the Big Island of Hawaii. The first version was said to have contained seven horizontal stripes as opposed to today's eight stripes. And some say that the alternating white, red and blue stripe colors were placed by mistake; that they were intended to in a sequence of red, white and blue.

Hawaii's flag means many things to different observers. Hawaii has the distinction of being the only state to have been formerly ruled by a monarchy. The Hawaiian flag not only represents Hawaii's struggles and progress in modern times, it also continues to pay homage to a time when the Hawaiian Kingdom allowed the alii (chiefs) to govern their people with absolute sovereignty. Many Hawaiians recognized this flag as a symbol of independence and a representation of the monarchy's opposed overthrow, pledging eternal allegiance to Hawaii as a sovereign nation.

The American overthrow of the independent nation of Hawaii was not the first time sovereignty had been challenged. In 1843, British Lord Paulette claimed stake in the islands, only to be rebutted by the country's Admiral Thomas, who reaffirmed Hawaiian independence and re-granted recognition of the Hawaiian flag on July 31 of the same year. After this scuffle, Kamehameha III spoke the words that were to become the Hawaii state motto: "Ua mau ke ea ka aina i ka pono," the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. On May 20, 1845, Ka Hae Hawaii was dedicated at the opening of the Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Hawaiian Flag Day

July 31st was named Hawaiian Flag Day by the former Governor John D. Waihee III, the first of Hawaiian descent to govern under the realm of statehood. Annual celebrations allow Hawaiian residents to celebrate the complex meanings represented in this historic symbol.