All Star Flags April 13, 2012 | All Star Flags

American Flags and Missouri Flags to fly at half-staff Saturday, April 14th in the state of Missouri in honor of US Army Staff Sgt Tyler James Smith.

Flags are to fly at half-staff in Texas County from April 15th through April 20th.

According to the office of the governor:
Staff Sergeant Smith died on April 3 of wounds he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sergeant Smith was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge (Bar, Weapon: Rifle (Inscription: Rifle), Expert), and the Overseas Service Bar (2 awards).

What’s in a Flag?
With the recent political changes in its country, Libya joins South Sudan as the second country to hoist a new flag in the last year. South Sudan’s new flag has six colors and is one of only two national flags to have that many colors. Among its features is a gold five-pointed star, which is believed to symbolize its people. The new flag of Libya has added three colors and features a white crescent and a five-pointed star. But what really makes a great flag design?
According to the North American Vexillological Association (people who study these things!), five basic principles make up a great flag:
-Keep it simple
-Use meaningful symbolism
-Use 2-3 basic colors
-No lettering or seals
-Be distinctive or related
So how did South Sudan and Libya do? Capturing the essence of a nation—its values, beliefs, landscape—in the design of a flag is not easy. If you were a vexillographer, what would your flag look like? Let us know what you think.