The Saltire of Scotland
The Saltire, or St. Andrew’s Cross, the flag of Scotland, has an honorable history. In the year 685, the Nothumbrians took on the Picts in the battle of Dunnichen north of the Tay estuary: The Picts won. Some fifty years later there was another battle of significance between the two antagonists near the village of Athelstaneford in East Lothian. This battle is, by tradition, believed to have provided Scotland with its patron saint, the apostle St. Andrew, and his banner, the Saltire. According to a Latin History of Scotland written in the 1440s, the Pictish warrior-king Unust was having the worst of the battle when St. Andrew appeared to him in a dream and promised him victory. St. Andrew was the first of the apostles called by Jesus. This, and another supernatural omen did the trick, allowing the tide to be turned and the battle won. The latter was a huge cloud formation against the blue sky in the shape of a Saltire, a diagonal cross on which St. Andrew was said to have been crucified. Hence the adoption of St. Andrew as Scotland’s patron saint, and the blue-and-white Saltire banner as the symbol of Scotland’s nationhood.
Flowers of the Forest: Taylor Fraser, RIP
St. Andrew's Society of Williamsburg mourns the passing of former SAS President Taylor Fraser. He was a wonderful man and we will never forget him. Our sympathies to his wife and family.
HAMPTON - Taylor Fraser Jr. of Hampton, Va., 80, died at home in the early hours of Nov. 26, 2007.
Mr. Fraser was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hampton, singing in the church choir and serving on the finance committee. He was also a committee chairman and past two-term president of the Saint Andrew's Society.
In 1989, Mr. Fraser retired from NASA's Langley Research Center after 41 years of government service. He also served in the United States Navy during World War II where he was decorated with both the American Theater Medal and the Victory Medal. Most recently, Mr. Fraser worked for 12 seasons at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. During that time he worked in group tickets sales, as a tram driver, and as a photographer.
Mr. Fraser was widowed in 2002, after Dottie, his wife of 51 years, passed away. He married Helen Custer of Hampton in January 2007.
In his passing, he leaves behind his wife, Helen; a daughter, Margaret and her husband, Gary, of Spanaway, Wash.; a son, Taylor III and his wife, Anne, of Houston, Del.; a stepdaughter, Mickey and her husband, Walter, of Hampton; a stepdaughter, Octie and her husband, Jesse, also of Hampton; a brother, Bert and his wife, Jean, of North Carolina; a brother, Peter and his wife, Susan, of Poquoson; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 28, at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home.
A memorial service for Mr. Fraser will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 29, at the First United Methodist Church at 110 E. Queen Street in Hampton, Va. Burial will be in the Veterans Memorial Gardens in Hampton following the service.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Church Choir of the First United Methodist Church, 110 E. Queen St. Hampton, Va.
Published in the Daily Press on 11/28/2007.
