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Vera Cruz do Oeste, Paraná (Brazil)

[Flag of Vera Cruz do Oeste (Paraná), PR (Brazil)]

image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2012

About the Flag

About the Flag

The municipality of Vera Cruz do Oeste (8,521 inhabitants in 2019; 32,709 ha) is located 550 km west of Curitiba.

Vera Cruz do Oeste was founded in 1964 by Antonio Villas Boas in the disputed area of Rio Quarto. To prevent the invasion of the place by other pioneers, Villas Boas built a big gate at the entrance of the colony, watched by gunmen; accordingly, the place was originally known as Portão ("Gate"). However, some colonists were able to enter "illegally" the domain. A first mass was celebrated on 22 September 1965, on the model of the first mass celebrated in Brazil.
The municipality of Céu Azul (Blue Sky) was established by State Law No. 5,572 promulgated on 15 May 1967, including the district of Vera Cruz do Oeste. The municipality of Vera Cruz do Oeste was established by State Law No. 7,269 promulgated on 27 December 1979 and inaugurated on 1 February 1983.

https://www.veracruz.pr.gov.br/
Municipal website

The flag and arms of Vera Cruz do Oeste are prescribed by Municipal Law No. 71 promulgated on 7 November 1985.

Article 2.
The flag of the municipality of Vera Cruz do Oeste was designed based on historical and geographic data and in accordance with the principles of heraldry and vexillology.

§1. The Flag has the same proportions as the national flag, that is, 14 units in width on 20 units in length. It is quartered by stripes of 2 units in width, which are composed by three stripes as follows: the central one, 1 unit, and the lateral ones 0.5 unit each. The quarters that are adjacent to the hoist measure 6 units in width on 6 units in length; the others measure 12 units in length on 6 units in width. At the stripes' intersection is placed a circle of 8.5 units in diameter, in which the coat of arms is inserted.

§2. Descriptive memoir
The flag is vert (green) to heraldically symbolize youth, hope, joy, the fertility of the soil, as well as the green fields that constitute people's ever renewed hope and joy. The stripes that quarter the flag form a cross that represents the town's toponym [Holy Cross].
The outer stripes that make up the cross are gules (red), a tribute to the founder of the municipality, gules as the representative color of audacity, haughtiness and glory, and a symbol of dedication, patriotic love, intrepidity, courage, bravery, enthusiastic life, and strength. These attributes are those of the founder, Mr. Antonio Vilas Boas, who never hesitated to face harsh struggles to give better life conditions to people and raise the name of the municipality.
The central part of the stripes is white, symbolizing peace, purity, religious spirit, and the people's commitment to order and work.
At the stripes' intersection, a white circle merges with the white stripes. The circle is the heraldic symbol of eternity, because it is a geometric figure that has no beginning or end; in the flag it also represents the town as the seat of the municipality.
In the center of the circle is placed the coat of arms.

Article 3. The coat of arms of the municipality of Vera Cruz do Oeste is composed of a shield with the following characteristics:

a) External ornaments
A mural crown argent (silver), with eight crenellated towers, only five of them visible, with open doors, emphasizing the municipality's hospitable character.
Argent (silver) has the heraldic meaning of friendship, work, prosperity, truth, loyalty, nobleness and intelligence.
2. Supporters
The shield is supported dexter (right) by a soybean plant and sinister (left) a by cotton plant, the two fructed proper, reminding and symbolizing the products from the generous and fertile land, which constitute the basis of the municipality's income.
3. Scroll
A scroll azure (blue) with the town's toponym in the central part, dexter (right) the date on which Vera Cruz do Oeste was elevated to the category of county and sinister (left) the date on which it was elevated to the category of municipality.
Below the scroll, a maize plant and another of wheat, crossed, fructed proper, also representing important products of the municipality.

b) Coat of arms
The Flemish-Iberian or Portuguese classic shield was used in Portugal at the time of the discovery of Brazil, inherited by Brazilian heraldry and by the first settlers and pioneers of our homeland.
2. Upper part
The shield bears a five-pointed star on a field azure (blue), which is the symbol of ancestry.
Azure (blue) heraldically symbolizes justice, beauty, nobleness, dignity, loyalty and also represents serenity and the search for God for man in the blue of the sky.
3. Central part
The shield is divided by an oblique stripe that starts from the lower right corner, or (gold), a color that represents glory, splendor, wealth, greatness, wisdom, faith, prosperity and generosity.
In the center of the stripe are inserted three escutcheons.
The dexter, white escutcheon features an armored arm holding a torch, symbolizing a firm wrist and an iron will to win.
The central escutcheon features an open book, representing education and culture, one of the great struggles and concerns of Mr. Antonio Vilas Boas, the municipality's founder.
The sinister, white escutcheon features a Mercury's winged helmet, representing commerce, which is well developed and of great economic significance for the region.
4. Lower part
In the shield's lower part the field vert (green) is divided by three rivers, which are the main ones in the region, namely: São Francisco Falso Braço Norte, Corvo Branco and São Pedro.
In the same field over the rivers, a log with a saw symbolizes the region's wood, one of the landmarks of its industrialization and which was of great economic importance for the municipality.

https://leismunicipais.com.br/a/pr/v/vera-cruz-do-oeste/lei-ordinaria/1985/8/71/lei-ordinaria-n-71-1985-cria-a-bandeira-e-o-brasao-de-armas-do-municipio-de-vera-cruz-do-oeste-estado-do-parana-e-da-outras-providencias
Leis Municipais database

Photos
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradeveracruzdooeste/photos/980390738686346
https://www.facebook.com/prefeituradeveracruzdooeste/photos/980372278688192

Ivan Sache, 9 February 2022