This Week In Vexillology #52

Last week, we were down in South America visiting Chile but This Week In Vexillology, we're heading across the Atlantic Ocean to the Lion Mountains and the Republic of Sierra Leone!

Adopted on April 27th, 1961 for national and civil usage, the flag of Sierra Leone is a horizontal tricolor.   The green in the flag represents the agricultural and natural resources of the country.  The white in the flag stands for justice and the blue recalls the natural harbor at Freetown, the capital.

The Coat of Arms of Sierra Leone was devised and granted by the College of Arms in 1960:

The lions holding the palm trees (oil palms, technically I guess) are taken from the old colonial badge.  The torches at the top of the shield symbolize education and progress, the green border represents the Lion Mountains while the wavy bars at the bottom of the shield represent the sea.   The national motto of 'Unity, Freedom and Justice' rests at the bottom of the Coat of Arms.

So, kids, put your hands together for Sierra Leone!  And remember, until next time keep your flags flying- FREAK or otherwise!