A commemorative personalized with his name on it. This seems to be escaping notice.

Flag & Coin...cause when 45 finally gets wind of this 'Princeling' he'll be a goner and maybe some of our National Parks can be saved.

The flag is ridiculous but coins are very common.

"He has commissioned commemorative coins with his name on them to give to staff and visitors, but the cost to taxpayers is unclear. Zinke's predecessors and some other Cabinet secretaries have coins bearing agency seals, but not personalized ones"

The one I linked to was also personalized. The guy is a sleaze but the coins are common practice.
It doesn't matter what whoever wrote that piece said. They are misinformed.

And Nancy P. is not a cabinet secretary


http://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2017/10/13/wheres-zinke-the-interior-secretarys-special-flag-offers-clues/

are quite common, especially in government circles (it evolved from the military). I'd be more surprised if he didn't have a coin.

In the military generals and admirals have their own flags (that's why they are called Flag Officers). He seems to wan to turn the Dept of the interior into his own military command. His spokes drone even referred to hq as a "garrison."

Zinke is a former Navy guy (I think). As you say, flag officers have, well, flags. In the Army, if the general is in the HQ, his/her flag is posted at the door. If an admiral is on a ship, his/her flag flies from a mast. That why the command ship in a taskforce, etc. is called the "flag ship." Flag officers' official vehicles have either little flags or placards on the front with their stars. Service members junior to the rank show on the flag or placard are expected to salute the vehicle.

Army generals also have coins which they give out as a recognition of good work not calling for an award (ribbon/medal). My bet is that admirals also have coins. Yes, the taxpayers pay for these as a relatively cheap tool for good morale. Every Army person I know has a collection of them.

Several senior political figures also have flags. I recall attending speeches by the Army General Counsel at the Army JAG School and his flag was posted on the stage along with the flags of the general officers also on the stage. I can't imagine a political figure using his/her flag except in the military environment. My bet is that Zinke wants to play admiral.

There is no want of egos in the Trump administration that need stroking.

looks like we've gone full circle in the aristocracy department. Time for another revolution?

That guard should smile and nod and never so something so outrageous.

.... for the raising of the flag and the playing of the National Anthem is an admonition that the U.S. flag is never to be shared on the same pole with other flags. And all this begs another question: When they raise Zinke bison flag, are Interior employees immediately supposed to turn toward it and put their hands over their hearts? Or is that just optional?

I see his name - Zinke - and I always add "virus" in my mind. Can't help it - it always happens.