THE WHITE BANKER OF COLUMBUS Columbus carried with him a personal banner (4) with the royaJ banner. Men of high degree were, for many years yet, to display their personal colors, coats-of-arms, and armorial trappings. Report has it that Queen Isabella presented to Columbus this personal banner. The green cross symbolizes Christianity; green is the color of hope. White is for purity. The gold crowns with F and Y symbolized Fernando and Ysobel, the Spanish spelling of the names. The royal banner of Spain and the white banner of Columbus they were the first flags/planted on American soil. Columbus, richl dressed in scarlet embroideried with gold, a.nd. followed by his fellow voyagers, ste>ped on the new world soil that epochal day in 1492 while the awe-struck natives gazed in wonder. In the processional, the Cross was first, then the Royal Banner and the Banner of Columbus. Columbus dropped to his knees, kissed the earth and .with tears of ,ioy gave thanks to God for his safe delivery, and then ceremonially planted the Cross and took possession of the country in the name of his King and Queen.