Flag of Puerto Rico

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The flag of Puerto Rico consists of five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center.

Though there are specific shades of red and blue that are used for the flag, some flag-makers make slight modifications. Specifically, the shade of blue used on the flag may correspond to the flag-flyer's political beliefs. Flags made by pro-independence groups use a sky light blue, while pro-commonwealth and pro-statehood groups use darker shades (as on the U.S. flag). The 1952 version uses a dark-blue shade.

Contents 1 Historical flags of Puerto Rico 2 Taino Tribal flag of Puerto Rico 3 Municipal flags of Puerto Rico 4 Political flags of Puerto Rico 5 Sports flags of Puerto Rico 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Historical flags of Puerto Rico

Once the Spanish armed forces established themselves on the island they began the construction of military fortifications such as La Fortaleza, Fort San Felippe El Morro, Fort San Cristobal and San Geronimo. The Spanish Army designed the "Burgundy Cross Flag" and adopted it as their standard. This flag flew wherever there was a military installation.

The independence movement in Puerto Rico gained momentum with the liberation successes of Simon Bolivar and José de San Martín in South America. In 1868, local independence leader Ramon Emeterio Betances urged Mariana Bracetti to knit a revolutionary flag using the flag of the Dominican Republic as an example. She knitted the flag with a yellow star in the left upper corner. The "Revolutionary Flag of Lares" was used in the short-lived rebellion against Spain in what became known as El Grito de Lares (The Cry of Lares).

Historical Flags of Puerto Rico
Burgundy Cross Flag (Spanish military flag)	1868 Lares revolutionary flag
Light blue triangle Puerto Rican flag of 1892	Dark blue triangle Puerto Rican flag (1952–1995)

In 1873, the Spanish crown issued a new colonial flag for Puerto Rico. The new flag resembled the flag of Spain but with the coat of arms of Puerto Rico in the middle. This flag was used on the island until 1898, the year that the island became a possession of the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1898) as the aftermath of the Spanish-American War.

Francisco Gonzalo Marin is credited with designing the Puerto Rican flag in 1892. He used the Cuban flag as a model and inverted the colors in the flag's triangle and stripes. He presented the flag in New York's "Chimney Corner Hall" a gathering place of independence advocates. The flag "Puerto Rican Flag" (with the light blue triangle) soon came to symbolize the ideals of the Puerto Rican independence movement.

It should be noted that some people believe that Manuel Besosa was the designer, based on a letter written by his daughter. The flag was banned by the Spanish crown and later by the American insular government. The flag consists of five stripes that alternate from red to white. Three of the stripes are red, and the other two are white. To the left of the flag is a light blue triangle that houses one white five-pointed star. Each part of this flag has its own meaning. The three red stripes represent the blood from the brave warriors. The two white stripes represent the victory and peace that they would have after gaining independence. The white star represented the island of Puerto Rico. The blue represents the sky and blue coastal waters. The triangle represents the three branches of government.

From 1898 to 1952 it was considered a felony to display the Puerto Rican flag in public; the only flag permitted to be flown on the island was the flag of the United States. In 1948, Puerto Ricans were permitted to elect a governor. The newly elected governor Luis Muñoz Marín and his administration adopted the Marín version of the Puerto Rican flag in 1952, in which the triangle was a dark blue resembling that of the flag of the United States, and proclaimed it the official national flag of Puerto Rico.

[edit] Taino Tribal flag of Puerto Rico

La Bandera Jatibonicu Taino de Puerto Rico. This is the official tribal nation flag of the Jatibonicu Taino Indians of Boriken Puerto Rico, representing the Taino tribe's original pre-columbian tribal territories of Orocovis, Morovis, Corozal Barranquitas and Aibonito in Puerto Rico. Please view the tribal nation flag * [1]

[edit] Municipal flags of Puerto Rico

Each of the municipalities of Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques, have adopted a flag which represents the region and its people. The colors and designs vary. Some flags contain a coat of arms or images of an object associated with the region, such as a bird, animal, or crop. In the case of Lares the flag adopted was the "Revolutionary Flag of Lares" with the yellow star changed to white. Caguas is the only city whose barrios have their own flags.

Many of the municipal flags of Puerto Rico pay tribute to the Cacíques of the Taino tribes (the native Puerto Rican tribe) who ruled the island before the arrival of the Spaniards. The flag of Utuado, for example, has a Taino sun symbol in honor of the Supreme Taino Cacique Agüeybaná, whose name means "The Great Sun". Other flags, such as that of San Germán, contain a mural crown. The crown pays tribute to the local caciques who ruled the area.

[edit] Political flags of Puerto Rico

Political flags in Puerto Rico are usually displayed in public during rallies, meetings, or parades in show of political strength and unity. The three main political parties of Puerto Rico are the New Progressive Party, which favors statehood and whose flag has a palm tree; the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, whose flag has an image of a Puerto Rican "jibaro" (farmer); and the Puerto Rican Independence Party, whose flag has a white cross symbolizing Christianity and purity, on a green background which symbolizes hope. The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party flag was usually displayed by the Cadets of the Republic, also known as the Black Shirts (Camisa Negras) because of their black shirt and white trousers uniform. On occasions the Nationalists would also carry the Puerto Rican flag with the light blue triangle, which was outlawed. During the Jayuya Uprising the Nationalists placed the Puerto Rican flag on top of the town hall; the flag was later taken down by a military soldier. Another political flag is that of the Boricua Popular Army, also known as Los Macheteros or F.A.L.N., an underground pro-independence group which believes and has often resorted to the use of violence.

[edit] Sports flags of Puerto Rico

The standard carried by Puerto Ricans at international sports events, such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games, and the World Cup of Baseball, is the Puerto Rican flag. However, various sports associations have adopted flags which are also used during sports events.

[edit] See also

• Coat of arms of Puerto Rico
• Flag of Cuba

[edit] External links

• Puerto Rico at Flags of the World
• Puerto Rico flags at Vexilla mundi