Last modified: 2014-02-15 by rob raeside
Keywords: star: 5 points (white) | stripes: 11 | shield | presidential | stars: 4 |
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image by António Martins, 16 August 2009
German TV reported today (ZDF, “heute-Journal”, 21.45-22.00)
on Liberian president Charles Taylor, his imminent abdication etc. The
presidential flag was shown several times (behind Taylor together with the
national flag; as car flag together with the
national flag). Although it was not totally unfurled,
it didn’t look like the reported flag. Instead of
the shield in the form of the national flag it obviously showed
the coat-of-arms in the center (plus the four stars in the corners).
Marcus Schmöger, 6 July 2003
Different sources from different dates show different Liberian presidential
flags. I don’t suppose that we will be able to trace exact dates of the
changes of these.
Željko Heimer, 9 May 2002
There seems to be photographic evidence of both flags in use recently,
although scarce for the one with the simpler arms:
The “new” flag, with the full coats of arms (ship etc.), was in use still in
Pres. Taylor’s time (as reported by Marcus Schmöger, 06 Jul 2003, above),
while Pres. Sirleaf is some times shown using the
“former” flag. It cannot be a mistake; my guess is that
each flag represent a separate office, both held by the same person —
maybe President and Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces?
António Martins, 21 February 2012
On 11 August 2009, “World News Today” on BBC4 tv carried
a report on reconstruction in Liberia after the civil war, and there was an
interview with the President in her office. Behind her were the national flag
and what one would assume is the presidential flag. We can’t say from this
screen grab that the flag is square (it
could equally easily be the same ratio as the national
flag), or that it has a white star in each corner. However, it is clearly
not the earlier flag and it is consistent with what
was reported in 2003.
André Coutanche, 13 August 2009
A photo
of President Sirleaf said to be taken on 16 Jan 2007, the anniversary of her
assumption of the presidency, shows the new flag.
Ned Smith, 17 August 2009
More (mostly inconclusive) photos of the Presidential flag:
From these photos
(that
one in particular) looks very much that it has to be rectangular,
not square.
André Coutanche, 13 August 2009
These images clearly shows yellow, not white, scrolls.
António Martins, 16 August 2009
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
A blue square field with one white star in each
corner, representing the Supreme Commander, and a
centered shield in the form of the national flag
(shield outlined in gold; upper part blue with a
white star; lower part, eleven vertical alternating
red and white stripes). «Whether this is actually
in use is in doubt, in view of the civil war in
Liberia since 1990.» (Sources:
[rya97],
[pie90] and
[smi80])
Ivan Sache, 1 June 1999
Since the Liberia flag is influenced by the
US flag, then I guess that this flag was influenced
by the former flag of the US President
(blue rectangle, US coat of arms in centre, four white stars in the
corner.)
Zachary Harden, 7 July 2003
One interesting fact is that the shield violates the rules of
heraldry by having an odd number of red
stripes, thus placing a blue chief (color) on a red shield (also color).
The US solves this by changing the stripes to
seven white, six red.
Nathan Lamm, 7 July 2003
This flag came into use after WWII, as the first mention that I am aware of
is in [smi75c]. Possibly it is from 1965 as
are the provincial flags, introduced by president Tubman.
Also, possibly that the flag was abandoned with his era, too? Do we have any
“modern” confirmation of this flag?
Željko Heimer, 9 May 2002
President Tubman died and was succeeded by President Tolbert,
who was overthrown and killed in a military coup in April 1980.
John Ayer, 9 May 2002
On this
photo (at the official website), red and white stripes on the
President’s left.
Jan Mertens, 13 August 2009
Webarchive has many past iterations of the Executive Mansion website from
23 Feb 2007 to 14 Feb 2008. They do not show the same photo of the President
with the flag and striped shield. It seems that was added sometime after 14
Feb 2008 — would they add a photo then with an outdated flag? Or have
they since reverted to the old version?
Ned Smith, 18 August 2009
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
Admirality 1955 book [hms55] shows 2:3
presidential flag with shield as in Album 2000
[pay00], but without the four stars.
Željko Heimer, 11 May 2002, quoting Jaume Ollé
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
Flaggenbuch (1939-1941) [neu92]
has flag that is virtually the same as the latter
flag of military authorities, 2:3 blue flag with
pally shield and star. The minor difference (black line around the shield,
size of the charges) are probably of no significance.
Željko Heimer, 9 May 2002
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
National Geographic Magazine (1917.10)
[gmc17] has a variation of
this that is square with yet different artistic
rendition of the shield.
Željko Heimer, 9 May 2002
This flag has the number 765 in the flag number of National Geographic
Magazine (1917.10) [gmc17].
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2002
Probably the Liberian Vice President’s flag was seen on a photo, at the office (also probably) of the current VP and President of
the Senate, Mr. Joseph N. Boakai. White field bearing a red-and-white striped shield having a blue chief with a
white star?
Jan Mertens, 18 August 2009
Definitely so. Photo
at the official website shows the same, although also inconclusive about
the details. It would seem that the basic pattern of the US office flags is
followed also in this case, as in the (multiple) presidential
flags: The US vice-president also uses a white flag with
the coat of arms in the middle.
António Martins, 21 February 2012
A photo using this flag can be found at
http://www.liberianobserver.com/news/boakai-resists-gay-marriage-embraces-fgm
David Phillips, 2 February 2014
