China - Peoples Republic - Cultural Revolution - People's Liberation Army Cadre Commemorative Flag
This is a silk commemorative military flag which bears both a stylized portrait of Mao Zedong and a Chinese inscription." Commemorating our gloriously receiving the kind greetings of the great leader Chairman Mao on August 11, 1968

The great leader Chairman Mao's audience with military cadres is our unit's greatest honor and greatest joy. All comrades of unit 8706, took part in the Mao Zedong Thought Study Group arranged by the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in Beijing."

The Red Guards were paramilitary units of radical students which were formed during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution or Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution, 1966 to 1976 was the response to Mao Zedong's call to revitalize the revolutionary spirit of the Chinese Communist Party, and by extension China itself.

During this era the Red Guards made placards, banners and flags and began wearing red armbands, scarves and pins and carrying the infamous Little Red Book. As evidenced by the flag, the students also evolved a cult of Mao, and his image often graced these items.

Translation of the characters reads: "Memorial to honor having received a cordial meeting with the great leader Chairman Mao on August 11th 1968; The great leader Chairman Mao meeting with military cadres is the greatest glory and the great happiness of our army; All the comrades of 8706 units having participated in Mao Zedong Thought call held by Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in Beijing." This is a companion piece to ZFC3016, a Red Guards armband.

Exhibition History:

University of California - Santa Cruz
Board of Councilors Meeting, Rare Flags Exhibit
Santa Cruz, CA
7 June 2012

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Provenance:
• Peoples Liberation Army Unit 8706, Beijing, China, 1968.
• Acquired by Xi Jim Wu, Artesia, CA.
• Purchased via Internet Auction by Carl Zaricor for Zaricor Flag Collection, 2004.


Sources: