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Monday is #NationalFlagDay, marking 56 years since the 
first flew on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965.
#DYK that the Canadian flag is based on designs submitted and curated by Canadian Second World War veterans? 1/
@thenfb
first flew on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965.#DYK that the Canadian flag is based on designs submitted and curated by Canadian Second World War veterans? 1/
@thenfb
Liberal MP John Matheson led the multi-party parliamentary committee to select a new flag design for Canada. He had previously served with 1st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Italy, and was grievously wounded at Ortona. 2/
Cliff Buckman / @LibraryArchives
Cliff Buckman / @LibraryArchives
George Bist submitted a simple design of a red maple leaf on a white background flanked by two blue stripes. He had previously served in the Canadian Army as a Morse code operator and was present at the German surrender in May 1945 near Bremen. 3/
@CanMusHistory
@CanMusHistory
Jacques St-Cyr was a government graphic artist. He simplified the 13-point maple leaf to the familiar 11-point design. He had been a sergeant with Le RĂ©giment de Maisonneuve and was wounded during the Battle of Normandy.
More: http://bit.ly/3qUrEPS 4/
More: http://bit.ly/3qUrEPS 4/
George F. G. Stanley was a junior officer in the New Brunswick Rangers early in #WW2. He later joined the Historical Section at @CanadianArmy HQ in London, where he rose to become the deputy director. He retired from the army in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. 5/
After the war, Stanley returned to his academic career. In the 1960s he was Dean of Arts at @RMCCanadaCMR. It was in this capacity that Stanley, inspired by the RMC flag, wrote to Matheson’s committee, charged with selecting a design for a new Canadian flag. 6/
Stanley’s suggestion was “a simple red and white flag bearing a stylized maple leaf on it.” His sketch incorporated a 13-point maple leaf. This was later simplified to an 11-point leaf by Jacques St-Cyr. @OurCommons and @SenateCA approved the new design in December 1964. 7/
There is more to this story. The @CdnEncyclopedia has an excellent article on the National Flag of Canada co-authored by John Matheson. One of the external links on that page includes the text of Stanley’s “Flag Memorandum” to Matheson’s committee. 8/ https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-flag-of-canada
With 1.1 million Canadians serving in the Second World War, it is little surprise that our veterans’ fingerprints are all over the creation of our national flag.
This adds additional meaning to the Canadian flags that fly year-round at the Juno Beach Centre. 9/
This adds additional meaning to the Canadian flags that fly year-round at the Juno Beach Centre. 9/
Visitors are filled with pride when they see the Canadian flag flapping in the breeze above the sands of Juno Beach. Now you share this symbol of courage and pride with your community. 10/10
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Support the JBC today! http://bit.ly/313vdbf
