Hello Greg,

Thanks but I was bad, I forgot to add Mr. Miles last name on my post. The Saltire is used on many flags throughout history. In heraldry there is very little deferances in the cross symbole and the saltire but usually a cross of what ever color is on a white field and they both should have a white fimbriation if the field is not white. To paraphrase a Emperor of China, it is interesting how a implement of death is so endearing to the Christian. The Roman Army used the saltire in one material or another as a warning sign, do not enter or cross this boarder in addition to it’s use in executions

You are correct on the Crux Constellation. The “Southern Cross” is on the modern flag of Australia, New Zealand, Mercosur, Samoa, Brazil, and Papua New Guinea, plus others all in the Southern hemisphere. If anyone is interested you can see the Crux Constellation on Google Sky if you have that button on Google Earth. Crux is important in Australian Aboriginal Asyronomy. The Crux and the Coalsack constellation is the mark on the head of the Emu in the sky, while the crux itself is said to be a possum sitting in a tree. With that, a possible connection for the Southern Cross and one of the southern US delicacies? But, I suspect a stronger connection is with the “Southern Cross of Honor” which I’m not sure of its date of origin. A Iron Cross looking cross with a wreath in the center, sometimes a battle flag is in the center of the cross inside the wreath.

Happy Trails!
Tom Martin