Last modified: 2004-07-10 by rick wyatt
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The flag of the Department of Veterans Affairs has a blue field, upon which the seal of the Department appears on both sides of the flag. There are two sizes specified, Class 1 - nylon, 4 feet 4 inches on the hoist and 5 foot 6 inches on the fly, excluding heading and fringe. There is a 2 1/2 inch fringe on the three free sides. Class 2 - nylon, 3 feet (hoist) by 5 feet (fly).
Departmental seal: An American eagle clutching a cord in its talons. The cord binds a 13 star U.S. flag and a 50 star U.S. flag. Above the eagle is a pentagon formed of stars, one with a point down. The words Department of Veterans Affairs and United States of America surround the eagle, stars and flags. The exterior circle of the seal is a rope.
Phil Nelson, 24 September 1998
The departmental flag is Old Glory Blue with gold fringe. The seal is specified as 24" for both authorized indoor sizes 52x66" and 3x4' (3x5' was more commonly made). Odd that they both have the same size, but I believe it was done to keep the cost down and to allow for multihead embroidery of the design by the winning contractor manufacturer. A few VA hospitals also fly outdoor flags in 3x5' or 5x8'. I believe the 5x8' flags had 30" printed seals. The indoor flags had a
total double seal and the outdoor had a single/reverse seal.
The size of the seal is specified in the TIOH drawings which must be 5-1-770 or so. I remember the 52x66" to have either a 30" or 32" high design. Very attractively embroidered. During Togo West's tenure as Secretary the flags were also made in a 36"x68-3/8" size with approximately 21" high design. I think the stars were 6" and 4" respectively, with the diagonally divided Under-Secretary's flag having slightly larger stars. These flags were produced by machine embroidery with the back side being reversed - as if printed through. The departmental flag used to sell on a VA contract for just under $700, but I imagine the price as gone up slightly. The secretary's flag had roughly 350,000 stitches and was in the $900 - $1200 range.
John Niggley, 22 December 2001