Latvia flag patch

Size: 6.5 x 4 cm (2.56 x 1.57 inch)

The flag of Latvia consists of a maroon base with a white horizontal stripe running through the middle of it.

Meaning: Dr. Karlis Ulmanis, the last President of Latvia before the Soviet invasion in 1940 described the meaning of the Latvian flag as this: "White stands for right and truth, the honor of free citizens and trustworthiness. But the maroon/red reminds us of the blood that has been shed in the recent past. It has been shed at all times in the remote past and we are ready to offer it again for freedom and independence, for our nation and country."

History: The current Latvian flag was adopted on February 27, 1990. This Latvian flag was originally used by the independent state of Latvia from 1918 to 1940, when the USSR again took over the country and banned use of the flag. Latvia regained independence from the Soviet Union on August 21, 1991.

Interesting Facts: The Latvian flag is reported to date back to a military unit in 1279, which would make it one of the oldest national flags in the world (source: worldflags101).