standard bearer

Flag bearer is a term that comes from flag: raise a flag, promote a cause. The concept can be used in different ways depending on the context.

Before moving on, it is important to focus on the idea of flag. This is how the banner, the emblem wave badge that represents or symbolizes a nation or to an entity of another type. Usually a flag is a rectangular fabric attached to a pole or pole.

A standard bearer is the one who carries a flag.

The standard-bearer as assistant to the ensign

The flag bearers have different tasks and assume different roles according to each case. In ancient times, the standard-bearer was the one who helped the ensign to carry the flag.

Some armed forces have a lower rank known as an ensign. In the infantry, the ensign was in charge of carrying the flag that identified his company. In this work he had the collaboration of the standard-bearer.

With the weather, the standard-bearer began to have other tasks as well. Among them appeared the distribution of food, for example.

An honor

At present, both in military ceremonies and in events of a civil nature, the standard-bearer is the one who has the honor to carry the national flag or another ensign. It is not about any person, but one who accesses said privilege for some particular merit.

On countries Latin Americans, it is common for educational establishments to recognize students best students as standard bearers. In this way, the student who stands out for his grades carries the flag of the nation in the different acts.

It is understood that becoming a flag bearer is a pride. It's about a prize It is awarded to those who, with their effort and skills, manage to stand out at the academic level.

In multiple ceremonies, there are standard bearers who carry the ensign.

The standard bearer, representative or leader of a cause

The notion of standard bearer can also be used in a symbolic way to refer to the individual who emerges as a leader, representative or spokesperson (spokesperson) of a movement or cause.

This type of flagger does not physically carry a flag (a piece of cloth). What it does is exercise leadership or representation of a certain group, promoting their projects or Actions.

On Argentina, to mention one case, to Eva Duarte de Perón it is usually pointed out as "The standard bearer of the humble". This actress and political leader, who was first lady between [1945 and 1952 being the couple of the then president Juan Domingo Peron, worked to improve the quality of life of members of the lower classes through the Eva Perón Foundation and from Female Peronist Party.

The concept in sport

In the Olympic Games, the delegation Each country has a standard-bearer who carries the national flag during the opening ceremony and another standard-bearer who takes part in the closing ceremony.

If we take the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (disputed in 2021 Since the pandemic from COVID-19 forced to postpone the competition), we found flaggers such as the basketball player Patty mills from Australia and the boxer Yuberjén Martínez from Colombia.

The standard bearer is also often called maximum exponent of a team. So it can be said that Cristiano Ronaldo is the standard bearer of the Portuguese team of soccer, to indicate a possibility.