Hana van der Kolk

The FlagSSS Day Collective formed in 2019 after national Flag Day ceased celebration in Troy, where the core organizers all live. Flag Day originated in the 1960s as a patriotic and anti-dissent holiday, reacting against the anti-Vietnam War protests at the time. We recognize that many in Troy enjoyed the parade and for some it didn't necessarily connect to that history. However, this kind of war mongering propaganda and action has left a traumatic residue. The FlagSSS Day Collective seeks to engage our city in celebrations of multiplicity against this history. With respect to long traditions of intertwining celebration and challenge, protest with party, dissent with a dedication to joy, the Collective is nimble, flexible, and ever-changing, organizing joyous gatherings that move through the streets of Troy. The processions include participants of all ages (some in costume), colorful flags and banners (some bearing messages and images related to our core concerns and dedication), and music.

The first FlagSSS Day took place in June 2019 and around thirty people joined. In 2020 we organized an impromptu procession on Election Day. In 2022 we hosted our second FlagSSS Day procession in June and our turn out more than doubled from 2019. In late 2022 we organized As the Crow Flies, a parade in solidarity with the crow population of Troy and highlighting human and more-than-human comradery in general. In June 2023, we hosted our largest FlagSSS Day procession yet with support from a grant from the Statewide Community Regrants Program. This procession featured commissioned flags and banners by Azuré Kauikeolani Iversen-Keahi, Will Carter, Angus McCullough, Eugene O'Neill, and Hana van der Kolk dedicated to lesser-seen, unseen, marginalized, under appreciated aspects of our region. We have also hosted a crow ritual, gallery event featuring flags from past processions, and community flag-making workshops.

More at https://flagsssday.org

Follow us on Instagram @flagsssday.troyny.

Check out the interview with Angela Beallor and Hana van der Kolk about the first ever FlagSSS Day in 2019: https://archive.org/details/media-sanctuary-troys-1st-ever-flagsss-day