Flag planting

A JPAC diver planting a flag on the site where an American World War II military aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean

Flag planting is a behavior humans have exhibited in various different contexts. It is often done as a means to assert territorial claims in military or geopolitical situations, though it has also become common in sports – particularly college football in the United States.

In war

World War II had multiple notable flag planting incidents, including those by American soldiers on Iwo Jima,[1] by Finnish soldiers on the Three-Country Cairn,[2] and by Soviet soldiers over the Reichstag.[3] The capture of Umm al-Rashrāsh (modern day Eilat) in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War was marked by the raising and planting of the Ink Flag.[4]

In college football

Flag planting incidents occurred, but were relatively infrequent, during the 2000s and 2010s. These included Michigan State players planting their flag on Notre Dame's field in 2005 and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield planting a flag at Ohio State in 2017.[5][6]

Much discourse surrounded flag planting following the 2024 season's rivalry week, with Michigan's upset road win over Ohio State and their subsequent flag planting on the latter's field drawing particular attention.[7] Following the 2024 incidents, Mayfield stated "College football is meant to have rivalries. That's like the Big 12 banning the 'horns down' signal. Just let the boys play".[6] Former college football head coach Nick Saban conversely called flag planting "disrespectful" and "bad for the game".[8] The incidents led to Ohio state Representative Josh Williams proposing the O.H.I.O Sportsmanship Act, which would make sports planting a felony in Ohio; Williams stated that "Behavior that incites violent brawls and puts our law enforcement officers in danger has no place on the football field".[9]

In scientific missions

The Apollo program planned to erect the American flag on the lunar surface, with the Lunar Flag Assembly being the specific kit designed for this goal. Russia performed a crewed descent to the North Pole's ocean floor in 2007, dubbed Arktika 2007, in which explorers planted a rust-proof titanium metal Russian flag.[10]

Gallery

• 
  Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
• 
  Raising the Flag on the Three-Country Cairn
• 
  Raising a Flag over the Reichstag
• 
  Raising of the Ink Flag

References

1. "Charles Lindberg, 86; Marine helped raise first U.S. flag over Iwo Jima". Los Angeles Times. June 26, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
2. Juuti, Mikko (April 27, 2015). "Tämä ikoninen sotakuva on kuin suomalainen versio Iwo Jiman lipun pystytyksestä" [This iconic war photograph is like the Finnish version of raising the flag on Iwo Jima]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
3. "Soviet soldier pictured in iconic 1945 Reichstag photo dies". The Guardian. February 17, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
4. Glatt, Benjamin (March 10, 2016). "Today in History: Winning Eilat with an ink flag". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
5. "Spartans regret South Bend flag-raising". Associated Press. September 21, 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2024 – via ESPN.
6. Bachar, Zach (December 2, 2024). "Video: Baker Mayfield Reacts to Wild CFB Flag-Planting Incidents, 'Let the Boys Play'". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
7. "College football players scuffle after flags come out following rivalry wins". AP News. December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
8. IT'S DISRESPECTFUL 🗣️ Nick Saban calls for change after flag-planting fallout 👀. College GameDay. ESPN. December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024 – via YouTube.
9. "Ohio politician proposes making flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan game". Associated Press. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024 – via Fox Sports.
10. "Russia plants flag under N Pole". BBC News. August 2, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2024.