THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Timothy Gibson, M.B.E., was born in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera on

April 12th 1903. His song writing began with "Nassau Calling" in 1938.
Other greats he has written are "Sailor Prince", Your Majesty", Hail
Princess Britannia", Beautiful Bahamas", Fairest Land on Earth and
"March on Bahama Land".

In November, 1972, the submission of Mr. Timothy Gibson entitled

"March on Bahama Land" written in 1969, was declared the National
Anthem for The Bahamas.

Mr. Gibson passed on but left us a legend:

"Lift up your head to the rising sun/ March on Bahama Land"

Coat of Arms: What is a Coat of Arms? It is a

badge, a mark or a sign of identity. It is a
legitimate stamp of authority. It is a distinction
of honor. It is a National Symbol. The
fundamental parts of a Coat of Arms are:

The shield upon which the charges are placed;

the crest, the Supporters, the Helmet and its
mantling, and the, motto. At the base of the
compartment is a scroll upon which is inscribe
the National Motto: "Forward, Upward, Onward,
Together"

The new Coat of Arms officially replaced the old one, which was
granted by Royal Warrant June 5th, 1959. It is a distinguished concept
of the Bahamian people, conceived for the Bahamian People, by a
native son of the Bahamian people and approved by Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth II on December 7th ,1971 for the immediate use of the
Bahamian People and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Mr. Hervis L. Bain junior designed the National Coat of Arms. He is a

graduate of St. Johns College, Nassau and the Nova Scotia College of
Art. He is also a graduate of the Art Administration Institute of
Harvard University.

Mr. Bain is a recognized artist whose works have been exhibited in

Canada, United States of America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

And so, it can be seen ~hat the conch shell, the palm leaves the sun,
the historic ship, the blue marlin, and flamingo are common
experiences for all Bahamians and being so-they can exist as relevant
symbols for the Bahamas and the Bahamian people.

National Flag: The British Blue Ensign with the

Flag of the islands emblazoned on the center of
the flag within a white circle was the official
flag of the Bahamas. A competition for the
design of a new flag for the Bahamas
was held in 1971.

November 14th 1972 Cabinet approved the

design of the flag now in use. A black
equilateral triangle against the mast super
impose on a horizontal background made up of
two colours on three equal strips, aquamarine,
gold and aquamarine. The symbolism of the
national flag is explained accordingly: Black, a
strong colour represents the vigour and force of the united people; the
triangle pointing towards the body of the flag, represents the
enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop and
possess the rich resources of the land and sea symbolized by gold and
aquamarine respectively. The colours of the flag are symbolic of our
bright region, of our land sea and sun.

National Flower - Yellow Elder: The Yellow

Elder (Tecoma Stans: or Stenolobium) is the
National Flower of the Bahamas. It was chosen
as the National Flower because it is said to be
unique only to the Bahamas; and that it blooms
through out the year. It is a tubular shaped
yellow flower with delicate red stripes on each
petal.One of the most densely populated
constituencies in New Providence Is the "Yellow
Elder" Constituency that was named in honor of
the Nationai Flower.

National Bird - the Flamingo: The Flamingo

is no ordinary bird. It has long slender
legs that pace regularly, a curving swan-like neck and
feathers of the most delicate pink. A few of these birds can
still be seen on the western side of Andros, known as Grassy
Creek, but lnagua has a Flamingo rookery of approximately
25,000 to 30,000 birds. Also in New Providence it is a tourist
attraction at the Ardastra Gardens where they perform daily
shows. The Flamingo is the National Bird of the Bahamas. It is pictured
on the Coat of Arms and on the Bahamian Dollar Note.

National Tree - Lignum Vitea: The Lignum

Vitae, or tree of life, is the National Tree of the
Bahamas. It is the heaviest of all woods with
clusters of small blue flowers at the branch tips.
The wood is used for timber for boat (e.g. in
Andros); the bark and roots are used for
medicine and the branches are used as feed for
live stock. A few years ago, when the Pope
visited the Bahamas, he was presented with a
fashionable staff, made from Lignum Vitae
wood.

THE NATIONAL FISH - The Blue Marlin, the

National Fish of the Bahamas, is the pride of the
Bahamian Fishing Banks and is one of the main tourist attractions in
the Bimini area. It is awe-inspiring when hooked. The record Marlin for
130 pound line is 742 pounds. This fish was caught off Bimini. For a
long time most fishermen thought that the eastern edge of the gulf
Stream off Bimini, Cat Cay, Grand Bahama and Walker's Cay was the
only area in the Bahamian Waters in which the fighting blues abound.
Recently, they have been caught in the tongue of the Ocean off Andros
Town; in the North west Providence Channel beside Chub Cay in the
Berry Islands; Off Abaco and near Harbour Island; and off the coast of
the lower side if Eleuthera. In beauty and flight the Big Blue Marlin is
the ace of all game fish. It takes know-how and right rigs to hook them,
strength and skill to boat them. They are caught throughout the
Bahamas, and the peak season is from June through August. The Blue
Marlin can be seen on the Bahamian National Coat of Arms and also on
the One Hundred Dollar Note.