deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

The Kingdom of Lesotho in Southern Africa. It is an enclaved country (an independent country completely surrounded by another country) – South Africa. It was the British Crown Colony Basutoland until it’s independence in 2006. Lesotho roughly translates as “The land of the people who speak Sesotho”.

“The British protectorate of Basutoland was established in 1868 to preserve the mountain kingdom of Basotho from being absorbed by South Africa. The Basotho (Southern Sotho) therefore flew the Union Jack and had little need for a national flag of their own. Decades later a national flag was designed for hoisting on Independence Day, Oct. 4, 1966, when the nation became known as the Kingdom of Lesotho. The prime minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, wanted to use the flag of his own ruling Basotho National Party, which had four equal horizontal stripes from top to bottom of blue, white, red, and green. Other parties objected, and instead the national flag displayed green, red, and blue vertically with a white silhouette version of a typical Sotho straw hat.

The current flag was officially adopted upon its independence from the British in October of 2006. The previous flag was similar except it had a shield in the upper left (hoist) side.”

The flag now contains the same colors, but they are now horizontal bars of blue, white and green. Centered in the field is a black Mokorotlo hat. The design reflects the unofficial motto: ‘We are at peace both internally and with our only neighbor – South Africa’.

For many years Denise and I have supported an organization that helps kids in Lesotho. We are proud to fly the flag of this country.