("\(*-*)/") เขียน:Bangkok Post พาดหัวข่าว
Hoisting the flag of Siam
The 'thong chang' will fly again to honour King Chulalongkorn
Story by PLOENPOTE ATTHAKOR
Decades after it was decommissioned and disappeared from public sight, the flag of Siam or thong chang _ a red flag with the image of a white elephant at the centre _ will be flown permanently at a private museum in Lat Phrao district from Tuesday onwards.
Pluethipol Prachumphol, operator of the Siam Flag Museum, said the flag will be flown to commemorate King Chulalongkorn the Great and the 100th anniversary of his second trip to Europe in 1907. Oct 23 is also Chulalongkorn or Piyamaharat Day.
''The ceremony is aimed at remembering our great king and his dedication to this kingdom, in particular his efforts to keep old Siam free from the colonial powers,'' he said.
It also marks the official opening of the Siam Flag Museum, which is in the compound of the Antique Phonograph & Gramophone Museum, he said.
Mr Pluethipol pointed out that the flag to be flown at the museum is a reproduction of thong chang that came into existence in 1891 during the reign of the great monarch.
''Vintage photos show that this type of flag was normally flown at public places or decorated a place where the king visited,'' he said.
One photo features a political event when French officials removed the Siamese flag in Trat, replacing it with the French national flag to demonstrate ownership of land France occupied during a conflict in 1904, he said.
According to Mr Pluethipol, a number of new elephant flags were introduced until 1916 when King Vajiravudh adopted the striped red and white flag.
''However, this flag was in use for a few months before the king opted for the tricolour flag which has been used until today,'' he said.
He said the flag of Siam will be hoisted on the evening of Oct 23 after the national anthem is played and the tricolour flag taken from the flag pole atop the museum.
''Unlike the tricolour flag that is removed from the pole every evening, we will keep the Siamese flag flying permanently at the museum just like in the old days,'' he said.
He said his museum offers the largest collection of Siamese flags, both genuine and reproduced versions, as well as other flag-themed collectibles.
''The genuine ones which were from the reign of King Chulalongkorn are priceless,'' he said.
The museum will be open to visitors every Sunday. Advance appointments are advised at tel 02-9399920.
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