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Defacement (flag)
Addition of a symbol or charge to a flag / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In vexillology, defacement is the addition of a symbol or charge to a flag.[1][2][3] For example, the New Zealand flag is the British Blue Ensign defaced with a Southern Cross in the fly.
Not to be confused with Flag desecration.
The British Blue Ensign
The flag of New Zealand, a defaced British Blue Ensign
The flag of Singapore, a defaced Indonesian flag
The flag of Colombia
The flag of Ecuador, a defaced Colombian flag
In the context of vexillology, the word "deface" carries no negative connotations, in contrast to general usage. It simply indicates a differentiation of the flag from that of another owner by addition of elements. For example, many state flags are formed by defacing the national flag with a coat of arms.