Last modified: 2022-06-18 by rick wyatt
Keywords: san diego | california | san diego county |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
2:3 image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 November 2003
See also:
Text and image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) from American City Flags by permission of David B. Martucci.
San Diego’s flag is a vertical tribar of equal red, white, and gold stripes. On the center stripe is the city’s seal, about one-third of the stripe’s height in diameter.
The seal is positioned slightly above
center; below it, centered and curved to match the seal’s outer edge, is
1542.
The seal is elaborate. A white band, edged on both sides in gold, surrounds
the seal. Beginning at 8 o’clock and extending to 4 o’clock,
• THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO • STATE OF CALIFORNIA •
runs clockwise in gold. In the remaining space on the band below, on
a white heraldic ribbon edged in gold, is the city’s motto, SEMPER
VIGILANS (“Always Vigilant”) also in gold. The shield is slightly
curved on both sides on the top edge, and indented slightly on either
side near the top. Its field is gold, with a wavy blue bar across its center.
At the top is a black Spanish caravel with red sails, flag, and pennon
facing the hoist. In the base is an orange tree, in natural colors with
fruit, with a black winged wheel on either side. The supporters are the
Pillars of Hercules, entwined with gold ribbons, each pillar resting on a
green dolphin with red eyes and fins, facing the shield’s edges, their red
tails linked below the shield. In the crest is a blue Carmelite belfry,
from which hangs a gold bell.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10, 2002-2003
The Native Sons of the Golden West, the hereditary
organization also responsible for the adoption of the California
state flag in 1911, developed the city flag and presented it to the city
council.
Flag adopted: 16 October 1934 (official).
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10, 2002-2003
Uncertain. The designer is not specifically named, but
the ordinance of adoption mentions Albert V. Mayrhofer as presenting
the flag to the council. Whether he is the designer or just the representative
of his organization is not certain.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
The detail on the seal does not permit
any lettering to be seen on the ribbons entwined about the Pillars of
Hercules and, in fact, there is no official reference to such lettering.
However, the pillars as depicted on the flags of Spain typically have
PLUS on the dexter ribbon and ULTRA on the sinister, together meaning
“More Beyond”. Since the ribbons are gold, one supposes that the
lettering would be in red (the reverse of the pillars on the Spanish arms).
None of the available examples of the seal, all small, show any lettering
on the ribbons.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
The city flag doesn't show the usual, colored version of the seal, but rather a black and golden depiction.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 November 2003
image located by Paul Bassinson, 30 May 2019
Source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com
The official seal of the City of San Diego was adopted by the City Council on April 14, 1914, and superseded a design that had been in use since Jan. 5, 1888.
image by António Martins, 31 August 2000
This image is based on the World Book, quoted at the Discovery Channel website. In this version, the city flag doesn't show the usual, colored version of the seal, but rather a black and golden depiction on the flag.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 30 October 2003
The current issue of "Mainsail Haul," the journal of the San Diego Maritime Museum, is devoted to the story of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the Spanish explorer who discovered the Bay of San Miguel Arcangel (later renamed "San Diego" by Vizcaino) in 1542. It includes the following comments about the flags of the vessels in the squadron of Pedro Alvarado (of which Cabrillo's ship, the San Salvador was a part):
There is abundant evidence that sixteenth-century ships flew the banners and ensigns of their owners and their religious patrons. Cabrillo's new ship "flew the banner of an almirante from the fore-topmast as almirantes of the sea are accustomed to do." The vessel also flew the arms of Alvarado and later those of Viceroy Mendoza. The religious banner probably showed a crucifix and perhaps the words San Salvador.Peter Ansoff, 4 July 2009
"Luis Gonzales, a pilot on one of Alvarado's vessels, later testified as follows: "Johan Rs. Cabrillo went in his own ship which flew the banner of an almirante from its foretopmast . . . and this witness spoke with his pilot and know it to be his ship."
image located by Paul Bassinson, 25 March 2021
The flag of the San Diego Police Department was obtained from
https://www.facebook.com/sandiegopolicedepartment/photos/a.373301782758805/373301799425470)
Paul Bassinson, 25 March 2021