The Shadow
Pastor Johnny Mize, president of the Covington Ruritan Club, presented Derek Cantrell, principal of Covington High School, with a flag of the Commonwealth that was flown over the Virginia State Capitol.
In a letter from G. Paul Nardo, clerk of the House of Delegates and keeper of the rolls of the Commonwealth, Nardo wrote, “I am pleased to certify that the enclosed flag of the Commonwealth was flown over the Virginia State Capitol at Richmond in recognition of Pastor Johnny Mize, president of the Covington Ruritan Club, for the fellowship, goodwill and community service both he and the Club promote and is presented on behalf of the Honorable Terry L. Austin.”
Mize remarked, “The flag that I presented to Derek Cantrell was flown over the Capitol in Richmond.”
He added, “On September 12, I presented a flag on behalf of our Ruritan Club to Covington High School that was flown over the Capitol in Washington D.C.”
As for the membership of the Covington Ruritan Club, Mize concluded, “At present, we have 15 members, and we meet on the 4th Tuesday at the Family Treats Restaurant in Low Moor.”
The “Code of Virginia” states that the Virginia flag is to be made of bunting or merino.
It also provides makers of the flag with exacting directions as follows: “It has a deep blue field with a circular white centre of the same material.”
The directions call for a circle to be painted or embroidered to show on both sides alike the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, and a required silk fringe is to be included on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff.
The obverse of the great seal reveals Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon who is resting with a spear in her right hand, pointing downward and touching the earth.
In her left hand, she is to be portrayed as holding a sheathed sword or parazonium, pointing upward while her face is upturned with her head erect and her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand and a scourge in his right.
Above the group within the border, the required word is “Virginia,” and in the space below on a curved line the motto is required, “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”
The motto of Virginia is translated to mean, “Thus always to tyrants.”
The “Code of Virginia” authorizes the Governor to regulate the size and dimensions of the flag for forts, arsenals, public buildings, ships-of-war, and merchant marine in addition to troops in the field.
It also dictates that the Department of General Services have State flags available for sale to the public and that the State flag be flown over the Capitol, or whatever location, during sessions of either house of the General Assembly.
During the last year of Covington High School, its 110th, the CHS Cougars now have the distinction of flying a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol and one that has flown over Virginia’s Capitol, thanks to Mize and the Covington Ruritan Club.
