Pluethipol Prachumphol, operator of the Siam Flag Museum, said the flag will be flown to commemorate King Chulalongkorn the Great and the 100th anniversary of his second trip to Europe in 1907. Oct 23 is also Chulalongkorn or Piyamaharat Day.

''The ceremony is aimed at remembering our great king and his dedication to this kingdom, in particular his efforts to keep old Siam free from the colonial powers,'' he said.

It also marks the official opening of the Siam Flag Museum, which is in the compound of the Antique Phonograph & Gramophone Museum, he said.

Mr Pluethipol pointed out that the flag to be flown at the museum is a reproduction of thong chang that came into existence in 1891 during the reign of the great monarch.

"Vintage photos show that this type of flag was normally flown at public places or decorated a place where the king visited," he said.

One photo features a political event when French officials removed the Siamese flag in Trat, replacing it with the French national flag to demonstrate ownership of land France occupied during a conflict in 1904, he said.

According to Mr Pluethipol, a number of new elephant flags were introduced until King Vajiravudh adopted the striped red and white flag.

''However, this flag was only in use for a few months before the king opted for the tricolor flag which has been used until today,'' he said.

He said the flag of Siam will be hoisted on the evening of Oct 23 after the national anthem is played and the tricolor flag taken from the flag pole atop the museum.

''Unlike the tricolor flag that is removed from the pole every evening, we will keep the Siamese flag flying permanently at the museum just like in the old days,'' he said.

He said his museum offers the largest collection of Siamese flags, both genuine and reproduced versions, as well as other flag-themed collectibles.

''The genuine ones which were from the reign of King Chulalongkorn are priceless,'' he said.

The museum will be open to visitors every Sunday. Advance appointments are arranged by calling 02-939-9920.

hoisting raising or pulling something up, often using ropes or special equipment reproduction a copy decade a period of ten years decommissioned officially stopped using permanently for all time or lasting for a very long time onwards continuing from a particular time commemorate to remind people of an important person or event from the past anniversary a date that is the exact number of years after the date of an important or special event dedication the hard work and effort that someone puts into an activity or purpose because they think it is important

colonial powers countries like France, England, Germany and Holland who took political control over many other countries compound an area in which a group of buildings stand came into existence began to be used reign the period when a king, queen, emperor, etc., rules monarch a king or queen who rules a country vintage old and of high quality; typical of a period of the past decorated made to look more attractive demonstrate to show clearly by giving proof or evidence

conflict a serious disagreement, argument or fight adopted started to use striped marked with a pattern of long narrow lines of color that are different from the colors next to them opted for chose tricolor having three colors national anthem the official song of a nation genuine real collectibles things that are worth collecting because they are beautiful or may become valuable