I’ve always been fond of flags, and a flagpole is as natural in my front yard as is the grass. Over the years, I’ve made dozens of visits to CRW Flags in my hometown of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to add to my expanding collection. CRW is a neighborhood institution, and I believe one of the best flag stores in America. Here’s a photo of Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot honoring them for twenty-five successful years in business:

I really thought of my affection for flags as almost something of a fetish, as no one I knew shared my interest. And then, some years ago, as I watched CBS’ ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the show opened with Sheldon Cooper’s imaginary webcast, ‘Fun With Flags.’ Although I realized that this was an attempt to add to the character’s quirkiness, I also realized that there were probably lots of people like me, who were a bit obsessed with flags.

I work at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and we here are blessed with what is no doubt one of the best flag displays at any college in America. Hanging above the dining area in a building called The Commons are the flags of each nation with a student among UMBC’s current population. There are 186 national flags in all, and I had often gazed up at them, wondering about one flag or another.

I went online a while back, figuring there’d be a map of some kind on a UMBC webpage. Well, long story short, I couldn’t find one, so I just decided to do it myself. The results are now housed on this page.

In completing this project, I realized how enjoyable it would be to take my interest in flags to another level, more deeply exploring the meanings and histories behind various banners and emblems. And that’s where this blog comes in.

Here, I’ll shine a light on certain flags, and tell you what I’ve learned about them. I’ll also keep you up-to-date on the exciting world of vexillology, which, as it turns out, is a real thing. There is an international body, the International Federation of Vexillological Associations, a U.S./Canadian body, the North American Vexillological Association, and even a local organization, the Chesapeake Bay Flag Association.

So, now, sit back and stay tuned for my version of Fun With Flags.