2685 Trip Tale: The flag exchange

When Martti and Riitta, our hosts in Finland, left the USA in 1981, we had a going-away party for them with friends from our Lutheran church, which they also attended. We gave them a large US flag, specially stitched by the local Flag Lady.

My husband in the front in white shirt, next to Riitta in the navy striped shirt, next to Martti in the plaid shirt, and me next to Martti with my hand on his shoulder.

The night before we left Finland, they gave us a Finnish flag and an Alvar Aalto book. Notice the light--it was about 10 p.m. This flag was adopted in 1918; the blue is for the lakes, and the white for snows of winter. The official state flag has the coat of arms in the center.

Finland
Helsinki
Finnish flag