Author: emilyrex

Flag of the State of Maine

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The current flag of the state of Maine was adopted on February 23, 1909. The flag is rectangular with a blue background. The state flag of Maine features Maine’s coat of arms in the center, two men on either side of the shield, a star above the shield, and the text “MAINE” below the shield.

The coat of arms of the state of Maine, which appears in the center of the flag, reflects Maine’s beautiful northeastern United States scenery: a large pine tree is featured in the center of the shield with a moose resting below near a river. A farmer holding a sickle and a sailor holding an anchor appear on either side of the shield. These two men represent the importance of the agriculture and sea industries for the state’s economic livelihood.

The star that appears radiantly above the shield is the North Star. The text, “DIRIGO,” appears below the North Star. Dirigo, which is Latin for “I direct,” is the state of Maine’s official motto. The text, “MAINE,” appears below the shield on a light blue banner.

Maine’s current flag is somewhat different from the state’s first flag, which was developed in 1901. The original flag was rectangular with a buff or tan-colored background. The flag featured a block image of a green pine tree in the center. The North Star appeared as a blue star in the top left corner of the flag.

Maine and Massachusetts are the only two states in the Union to fly a separate ensign, or flag at sea. Maine’s official ensign is a rectangular flag with a white background. A block image of a green pine tree appears in the center with a blue anchor behind it. The text, “DIRIGO,” appears in blue capital letters above the tree and anchor; and the text, “MAINE,” appears below the tree and anchor in the same font.

Flag of the State of Delaware

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The flag of the state of Delaware was adopted on July 24, 1913. The flag is rectangular with a colonial blue background. The center of the flag features a buff-colored diamond and the Delaware coat of arms appears inside the diamond. The date December 7, 1787 appears on the bottom of the flag below the coat of arms. This date refers to the day on which the state of Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. This bold action made Delaware the first official state in the Union, and because of this, Delaware holds first position at national events like presidential inaugurations.

The other elements of Delaware’s state flag have important meaning for the state and recall the Revolutionary era. The blue and buff colors on the state flag of Delaware, for example, symbolize the colors of George Washington’s uniform.

The elements of the coat of arms also represent important people and industries of the state of Delaware during the Revolutionary era. The center of the coat of arms features a shield with horizontal red, blue, and white stripes. An ear of corn and sheaf of wheat appear in the red stripe, symbolizing the importance of agriculture in Delaware’s economy. The blue stripe is plain, representing the Delaware River, and the river’s importance to Delaware’s transportation and economy. An ox appears in the white stripe and reflects the importance of animals in Delaware’s economy. A ship appears above the shield, symbolizing the importance of shipbuilding and trade to Delaware’s economic livelihood.

Two men appear on either side of the coat of arms: a farmer with a hoe and a militiaman with a musket. These two men reinforce the importance of farming in Delaware and also emphasize the importance of the militia—an army made up of civilians—in gaining independence during the Revolution. Under the shield and the men are the words “Liberty and Independence,” Delaware’s state motto.

Flag of the State of Connecticut

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The flag of the state of Connecticut is rectangular with a blue background. A shield appears in the center of the flag and a banner appears below the flag with the state’s motto: Qui Transtulit Sustinet (“He who transplanted still sustains”). The flag was adopted on September 9, 1897.

The shield on Connecticut’s state flag exemplifies the Rococo design with its many curves and fancy ornamentations. The shield has a gold border and five clusters of oak leaves and acorns. Three grapevines appear in the center of the shield. These natural elements contain important symbolic meaning for the state of Connecticut. Grapes are a symbol of good luck, happiness, and peace, and the vines symbolize strong and lasting friendships. The oak leaves and acorns represent antiquity, faith, endurance, and strength.

The flag of Connecticut’s design dates back to the original seal of Saybrook Colony, which was established in 1639 during the American colonial period. The seal contained 15 grapevines and a hand in the top left corner that contained a scroll. Connecticut’s state motto, Qui Transtulit Sustinet, was written on the scroll. The current state flag of Connecticut contains only three grapevines, which represent Connecticut’s oldest towns: Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. The acorns and white oak leaves were also added to the current state flag, acknowledging that the Charter Oak is Connecticut’s state tree.

Unlike many other states, the Connecticut’s General Assembly adopted the state flag without much controversy or deliberation. When Connecticut had no official state flag in the late 1800s, the Anna Warner Bailey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution received approval from Governor O. William Coffin to design a state flag. After the Daughters of the American Revolution designed the flag, Governor Coffin proposed the design to the Connecticut General Assembly on May 29, 1895, and the Assembly approved the design the same day. The flag was officially adopted in 1897.

Flag of the State of Kentucky

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The flag of the state of Kentucky was officially authorized on March 26, 1918. The 1918 flag act, which was adopted by the Kentucky General Assembly, mandated that the Kentucky state flag have a dark blue background. The flag must include the seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the center, and the seal must be encircled by the goldenrod, Kentucky’s state flower. The original dimensions of the flag were not specified.

The original Kentucky state flag was not created until 1920, when a ceremony at Camp Zachary required its use. After this ceremony, a committee was formed to improve the design of the flag, but unfortunately, the committee’s work never reached the governor.

In 1927, Jouett Cannon, the Secretary of the Kentucky Historical Society, commissioned a Frankfort art teacher, Jesse Cox, to design an official Kentucky state flag. The flag Cox designed is very similar to the current Kentucky state flag.

The Kentucky state flag’s design was officially codified in 1961–1962, when Kentucky Adjunct General, Major Taylor L. Davidson researched historical designs of previous Kentucky state flags and commissioned artist Harold Collins to produce three designs of the Kentucky state flag. After Kentucky Governor Bert Combs approved one of the designs, the Kentucky Legislature passed a more detailed bill in 1962 to codify the design of the state flag and eliminate uncertainties.

The Kentucky state flag we see today adheres to the original flag act and includes the dark blue background, seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and goldenrod flowers. The seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky depicts two friends, a frontiersman and a statesman embracing. According to popular belief, the frontiersman is Daniel Boone, who explored much of Kentucky, and the statesman is Henry Clay, Kentucky’s most famous politician; the official explanation of the seal, however, claims that the figures represent all frontiersmen and statesmen. The words “UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL,” encircle the men in the seal and refer to lyrics from the popular American Revolution tune, “The Liberty Song.” In addition to the goldenrod flowers, the words “COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY” also encircle the seal.

Flag of Florida

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The flag of the state of Florida was adopted by popular referendum on September 24, 1900. The flag is rectangular with a white background and a red diagonal cross. The seal of the state of Florida appears in the center of the flag, at the intersection of the red stripes.

The red diagonal cross is reminiscent of the Cross of Burgundy flag that the Spanish navy used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, during which the empire colonized Florida. The seal of the state of Florida depicts a Native American Seminole woman spreading hibiscus flowers in the foreground. Florida’s state tree, the Sabal palm, appears behind the woman. A steamboat appears in the background as the suns rays break into the sky. A gold border encloses the seal. The text, “Great Seal of the State of Florida,” and “In God We Trust,” appear in red capital letters insider the border.

During the Civil War, when Florida seceded from the Union, the Florida Legislature passed a law authorizing Florida’s governor to design Florida’s first official state flag. Florida’s first flag was included a blue vertical field on the left side with Florida’s state seal (different from the current state seal) inside the blue field. The other region of the flag included two red horizontal stripes, one on the top of the flag and one on the bottom, with a white stripe in the center.

Between 1868 and 1900, Florida used a flag that featured the state’s seal on a white background. Just before the turn of the century, however, Florida’s Governor Francis P. Fleming suggested adding the red diagonal cross to Florida’s state flag. By adding color to the flag, the banner could not be mistaken as a flag of retreat, and the red stripes added significance as well. This decision was approved by popular referendum in 1900. In 1985, the graphics of the Florida state seal were improved slightly, and the flag changed subsequently as well.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Flags

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 16, 2012, and it’s not too late to order a beautiful Martin Luther King, Jr. Decorative Flag from the United States Flag Store. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Flag is available in two sizes, 28” x 40” (vertical orientation) or 3 ft x 5 ft (horizontal orientation). Both flags are made from high quality nylon, feature vibrant colors and a beautiful design, and are suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. flags feature a beautiful portrait of Dr. King on the right side of the flag with an American flag waving in the background. The text “Martin Luther King, Jr.” appears in gold letters at the top of the flag, and the text, “Yesterday’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality,” appears in red letters at the bottom of the flag.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Born on January 15, 1929, Dr. King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. After becoming an ordained clergyman, completing graduate studies at Boston College, and serving as clergyman at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. King became active in the Civil Rights Movement. Using teaching from Christian tradition and the nonviolent protest philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King used the power of words, nonviolent protests, and grassroots organization to pave the way for equal rights in the United States.

Dr. King was an influential leader, along with Rosa Parks, in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. In 1957, he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization that proved essential to direction to the Civil Rights Movement. In 1963, Dr. King was one of the leaders behind the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous, “I Have a Dream speech.” Dr. King is among the youngest recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, which he received in 1964. Dr. King was shot in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1964 while delivering a speech to improve wages and conditions for sanitation workers.

State Flag of West Virginia

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The current version of the West Virginia was adopted on March 7, 1929. The flag is rectangular with a white background and dark blue border. The West Virginia coat of arms appears in the center of the flag. Rhododendrons, West Virginia’s state flower, decorate the coat of arms. The text “The State of West Virginia,” appears on a red ribbon above the coat of arms. The text “Montani Semper Liberi,” (“Mountaineers are Always Free”) appears on another red ribbon below the state seal.

The coat of arms bears symbolic meaning for the people of West Virginia. The two men depicted in the coat of arms symbolize West Virginia’s agriculture and industry. The man on the left side of the coat of arms is a farmer, holding an ax and plow and standing in front of a cornstalk. On the right side of the coat of arms is a miner holding a pickax. An anvil and sledge hammer appear on behind the miner, representing mining’s importance to West Virginia’s industrial growth.

In between the two men is a boulder inscribed with the date June 20, 1863, the day West Virginia became an official state of the Union. On the grass in front of the boulder are two rifles and a Phrygian, or liberty, cap, representing the importance of the West Virginia people’s conquest for liberty.

Although the current West Virginia flag was adopted in 1929, the West Virginia State Legislature adopted the state’s first flag in 1905. The original flag had a white background with a blue border, but a larger rhododendron appeared on the front of the flag and the West Virginia coat of arms appeared on the back. Two years later, in 1907, another version of the flag reversed the images: the rhododendron appeared on the back and the coat of arms on the front. Unfortunately, manufacturing a flag with different front and reverse sides was expensive, and by 1929, the state adopted a flag with the rhododendron and coat of arms depicted together on the same side.

Cotton, Nylon, and Koralex Flags by Valley Forge

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Flying a Valley Forge American Flag makes a statement. Not only are you displaying your patriotic spirit, but, by waving a United States flag manufactured by the Valley Forge Flag Company, you are supporting a business that has been family owned since 1882 and a company that is dedicated to manufacturing flags that are 100% American-made. With so many of our consumer goods being outsourced to other parts of the world, purchasing an American-made flag is one big way to support a business that is truly committed to keeping operations and materials in the United States.

The United States Flag Store is the largest online vendor of Valley Forge Flags and carries flags in cotton, nylon, and Koralex materials. The Valley Forge Best Cotton American Flags are the traditional choice for American flags. These flags are made of heavy-duty 2×2 ply mercerized cotton to ensure durability and weather resistance. The flag’s colors are rich and vibrant and wear well through outdoor weather. For even better durability, the Valley Forge Best cotton American flags are reinforced with four rows of stitching at the fly end. These traditional cotton flags are available in large sizes for outdoor use, including 3×5 feet, 4×6 feet, and 5×9.5 feet at unbeatable prices. At the United States Flag Store website, you’ll also find Valley Forge Best cotton flags in a 6×9.5’ government version and a Heritage series flag.

The Valley Forge Nylon American Flags are of highest quality nylon flags on the market and are a less expensive alternative to the traditional cotton flags. Featuring heavy-duty nylon construction, these flags are designed to resist the fading and fraying that occurs with repeated outdoor use. What makes the Valley Forge nylon American flags so special, however, is their elegant construction. With sewn stripes, embroidered stars, and heavily reinforced fly ends, these flags are a cut above many other nylon American flags on the market. Available in sizes ranging from 2×3 feet to 20×38 feet, and discounts available for ordering in large quantities, a Valley Forge nylon American flag just might be the perfect addition to your home or business.

Koralex II American Flags from the Valley Forge Flag Company are another great alternative to cotton flags. Koralex is a synthetic material that looks like coarse cotton but is more durable. Koralex flags resist fading and fraying better than cotton, making them perfect for outdoor use. The Valley Forge Koralex II flags available on the United States Flag Store website are beautifully crafted with sewn stripes and embroidered stars and feature a canvas or nylon heading with brass grommets. Koralex flags are available for as low as $21.95 and in sizes ranging from 3×5 feet to 20×38 feet.

Christmas Flags from the United States Flag Store

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Christmas is now less than two weeks away, but it’s not too late to complete your outdoor Christmas decor with a Christmas flag from the United States Flag Store. The United States Flag Store’s vibrantly colored, high quality, appliqued and embroidered decorative flags are the perfect way to show your holiday spirit. Decorative flags for Christmas are made of high-quality polyester for the best outdoor durability. Each meticulously crafted flag is individually tested to meet the United State’s Flag Store’s high standards.

The United States Flag Store has four beautiful fiber optic flags for the Christmas season. These flags actually light up, and they look perfect alongside an outdoor light display. Flags measure 28 x 40 inches, come with door hangers, and require three AA batteries (not included). Choose from a Welcome Snowman, Winter Wonderland, Reindeer, or Heavenly Peace design. All fiber optic flags are available at the United States Flag Store for just $31.95!

The Christmas Snowflake Flag is a beautiful outdoor banner flag with lots of texture and dimension. The flag is made of a green five-sided banner that is complete with red stripes, bells, and a large white snowflake in the center. This great flag measures 28 x 40 inches and is available from for just $21.

The Silly Santa Flag is another great banner flag for the Christmas Season. The Silly Santa Flag features a blue background and a large image of Santa, complete with the red hat, long white beard, and rosy cheeks. The text “Ho, Ho, Ho!” appears on Santa’s beard. This flag is available from the United States Flag Store for a low price of just $21!

These are just a few of the Christmas Flags available from the United States Flag Store. Visit the online store today for many more Christmas flag designs, including a candy canes, Christmas cats, ornaments, and other holiday scenes.

Flag of Delaware

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The flag of the state of Delaware was adopted on July 24, 1913. The flag is rectangular with a colonial blue background. The center of the flag features a buff-colored diamond and the Delaware coat of arms appears inside the diamond. The date December 7, 1787 appears on the bottom of the flag below the coat of arms. This date refers to the day on which the state of Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. This bold action made Delaware the first official state in the Union, and because of this, Delaware holds first position at national events like presidential inaugurations.

The other elements of Delaware’s state flag have important meaning for the state and recall the Revolutionary era. The blue and buff colors on the state flag of Delaware, for example, symbolize the colors of George Washington’s uniform.

The elements of the coat of arms also represent important people and industries of the state of Delaware during the Revolutionary era. The center of the coat of arms features a shield with horizontal red, blue, and white stripes. An ear of corn and sheaf of wheat appear in the red stripe, symbolizing the importance of agriculture in Delaware’s economy. The blue stripe is plain, representing the Delaware River, and the river’s importance to Delaware’s transportation and economy. An ox appears in the white stripe and reflects the importance of animals in Delaware’s economy. A ship appears above the shield, symbolizing the importance of shipbuilding and trade to Delaware’s economic livelihood.

Two men appear on either side of the coat of arms: a farmer with a hoe and a militiaman with a musket. These two men reinforce the importance of farming in Delaware and also emphasize the importance of the militia—an army made up of civilians—in gaining independence during the Revolution. Under the shield and the men are the words “Liberty and Independence,” Delaware’s state motto.