George, when the flag was changed in the '50s, I was in Boot Camp, (Navy) Airman's School, Photo School, and Cuba. So, as Schultz said, "I know nothing!" Seriuosly, you can get arguments on both sides as to why it was changed. I suspect the Commander is correct in his conclusion. More recently, a vote on returning to the pre 1956 version, resembling the Stars and Bars, was promised. But then Governor Roy Barnes selected a commitee to design a new one; thus the 2001 monstrosity, which pleased no one. We have now returned to the pre '56 version, with a new field adapted from the 2001 flag. See: http://www.allstates-flag.com/fotw/flags/us-ga4.html This argument has about split the Georgia SCV down the middle, and hurt Georgia's reputation and caused a shortage of funds for preservation, etc. With so many new residents, I don't see any more flag votes any time soon. I refer to the very small number of yahoos who have kidnapped the CBF as "Professional Southerners". They give the rest of us a bad name. Stan