Flag of Omerica

The flag of Omerica (drapeau d’Omerique) is a, with a design corresponding exactly to that of the shield in the coat of arms. The flag and arms are officially defined by the National Symbols Act (Loi sur les symboles nationaux), which specifies the of the arms as “Azure, a cross gules fimbriated argent between four fleurs-de-lis Or”.

History
The exact derivation of the Omerican flag is disputed, though the most commonly cited hypothesis has the flag descend from a combination of the Cross of Saint George with the banner of Romanique, with traces its origins back to the and the banner of Gallia Moderne. Alternatively, the Avonian revolutionary flag, which itself is of disputed origin, is cited as one of the two component banners instead of the Cross of Saint George, though it has been argued that the flag was relatively unknown outside of Avon and therefore was not one of the components of the Omerican federal flag.

Specification
The Omerican flag is usually half as tall as it is wide, though flags with a 2:3 or 3:5 ratio can also occasionally be seen. For aesthetic reasons, flags that have the Omerican flag in the canton (particularly the ensigns and war flags) should always be 1:2 to preserve the square fly area, with the canton being half of both the length and width to the upper hoist (left) quarter.

The thickness of the central red cross and white are specified as being $1/5$ and $1/15$ of the length of the flag’s short edge respectively, regardless of the flag’s ratio or orientation. The fleurs-de-lis are centred in each blue quadrant and have a width and height equal to $1/6$ and $5/24$ of the flag’s height respectively.

Colours
The colours of the flag were not standardised at its adoption and thus varied from one to the next. A was laid down by ordinance in 1988 and modified in 2015 to accommodate electronic display.

Protocol
Custom states that the national flag should be displayed in a dignified and honourable manner and should be lowered at night unless properly illuminated. The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground or water, be used as a drapery or hold anything before unfurling. No other flag may fly higher than the national flag by law; the flag should occupy the place of honour under Omerican law and should be the first flag raised and last lowered. Displaying a frayed or dirty flag is considered insulting; flags that are unfit for continued use are traditionally burnt in private as a mark of honour.

Consistent with the honour and dignity of the flag, it should never be dipped to a person or thing. The flag should be hoisted and lowered to the tune of the national anthem and all persons present should face the flag and stand at attention, while those in uniform should render a salute. During a period of national mourning, the flag may be flown at by raising the flag to the top of the flagpole and immediately lowering it a third of the way down, a process which is reversed when the flag is lowered from the pole; if flying the flag at half staff is not possible or practicable, a black ribbon may be attached to the top of the pole above the flag. At state or military funerals, the flag may be draped over the coffin with the fleurs-de-lis pointing toward the right shoulder of the deceased; the flag is removed before the coffin lowered into the grave or cremated and folded up and presented to the as a token of respect.