In vexillology, defacement is the addition of a symbol or charge to a flag.[1][2][3] For example, the Australian flag is the British Blue Ensign defaced with a Southern Cross in the fly.

The British Blue Ensign
The flag of Australia, a defaced British Blue Ensign
The former flag of Hong Kong (1959–1997), a defaced British Blue Ensign
The bicolor flag of Indonesia
The flag of Singapore, a defaced Indonesian bicolor flag
The tricolor flag of Colombia
The flag of Ecuador, a defaced Colombian tricolor flag
The tricolor flag of Serbia
The former flag of Montenegro (1905–1918), a defaced Serbian tricolor flag

In the context of vexillology, the word "deface" carries no negative connotations, in contrast to general usage. It simply indicates a differentiation of the flag from that of another owner by addition of elements. For example, many state flags are formed by defacing the national flag with a coat of arms.

History

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Where countries pass through changes of regime with contrasting ideological orientations (monarchist/republican, fascist/democratic, communist/capitalist, secular/religious etc.) – all of which, despite their differences, claim allegiance to a common national heritage expressed in a venerated national flag – it can happen that a new regime defaces that flag with its own specific emblem while keeping the basic flag design unchanged. Such changing ideological emblems appeared over time, among others, on the flags of Italy, Hungary, Romania, Germany (West and East; see illustration), Ethiopia, and Iran.[citation needed] For example, during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and the Romanian Revolution of 1989, insurgents tore the emblem of the regime that they opposed out of the national flag and waved the flag with which they identified.[4][5]

An already defaced flag can be further defaced. For example, the Australian flag is a defaced British Blue Ensign. The Australian Border Force Flag is further defaced with the words "Australian border force" in block letters.[citation needed]

In the United States, it is against the Flag Code to deface the national flag with advertising or with any other sigil, image, or insignia.[6] Such flags are nevertheless commercially available, depicting the seals of various branches of the U.S. military, Native American-related objects such as tomahawks or war bonnets, and the like.[citation needed]

It is common for association football supporters travelling abroad for a match to bring a national flag defaced with the name of their hometown or a similar local identifier.[citation needed]

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References

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  1. ^ Smith, Whitney (1975). Flags: Through the Ages and Around the World. New York: McGraw Hill. p. 14. ISBN 0-07-059093-1. DEFACE: To add a BADGE to an existing flag
  2. ^ "Deface". Dictionary of Vexillology. Flags of the World.
  3. ^ "Deface". Illustrated Dictionary of Vexillological Terms. North American Vexillological Association. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012.
  4. ^ "Hungary - 1956 Uprising Flags".
  5. ^ "Hungary - Romania - 1989 Revolutionary Flag".
  6. ^ "4 U.S. Code § 8(d)".