Flag of Idaho

August 19, 2009 ~ Online Stores ~ Leave a comment

The Flag of Idaho was adopted on March 12, 1907, and was slightly modified in 1957. The flag was based on the design of a flag carried by the First Idaho Infantry in 1899 during the Spanish-American War.

The flag is a field of blue with the state seal in the center. The words “State of Idaho” appear on a a red and gold band in gold letters. The official description of the flag calls for a fringe of gold around the edges, however, many of the versions of this flag do not include this feature.

The state seal in the center of the flag shows a miner and a woman that are said to represent equality, liberty, and justice. The other symbols on the state seal signify some of Idaho’s resources, such as mines, forests, wildlife, and farmland.

The following information was excerpted from the Idaho Statutes, Title 46, Chapter 8.

TITLE 46. MILITIA AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
CHAPTER 8. MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS.

46-801. STATE FLAG. A state flag for the state of Idaho is hereby adopted, the same to be as follows: A silk flag, blue field, five (5) feet six (6) inches fly, and four (4) feet four (4) inches on pike, bordered with gilt fringe two and one-half (2 1/2) inches in width, with state seal of Idaho twenty-one (21) inches in diameter, in colors, in the center of a blue field. The words “State of Idaho” are embroidered in with block letters, two (2) inches in height on a red band three (3) inches in width by twenty-nine (29) inches in length, the band being in gold and placed about eight and one-half (8 1/2) inches from the lower border of fringe and parallel with the same.

Connecticut Flag

July 13, 2009 ~ Stacey Patrick ~ 2 Comments

The Connecticut flag has perhaps one of the simplest designs of any American state flag. It consists of a simple design on top of a light blue background. In the middle of the Connecticut flag sits a white baroque shield along with three grapevines which each bear three bunches of purple grapes. The banner below the white shield of the Connecticut flag displays the state motto, “Qui Transtulit Sustinet” or, “He who transplants, sustains”.

The design for the Connecticut flag is directly derived from the seal of Saybrook Colony, when it was established in the year 1639. In the original Saybrook Colony seal, there was a display of 15 grapevines along with a hand in the upper left hand corner displaying the words “Sustinet qui transtulit”. The Saybrook Colony seal was eventually transferred to Connecticut in the year 1644, when Connecticut bought the colony.

On October 15, 1711, the seal was altered again. The Connecticut governor and legislature altered the seal to contain only 3 grapevines instead of the original 15. This was meant to symbolize the original 3 Connecticut settlements of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford.

The Connecticut General Assembly of 1897 provided an official description of the Connecticut flag. The official dimensions of the flag are meant to be 5′ 6” in length and 4’4” in width. The official colors of the Connecticut flag are an azure blue silk background with the armorial bearing in argent white silk. The design of the crest on the Connecticut flag should be displayed in natural colors and the border of the shield should be embroidered in gold and silver. Below the shield should be a white streamer, cleft at each end, bordered in gold and brown. The motto on the streamer should also be dark blue in color.

Alabama Flag

May 14, 2009May 14, 2009 ~ Stacey Patrick ~ Leave a comment

Most historians believe that the Alabama Flag was originally designed to resemble the blue saltire of the Confederate Battle Flag. The Battle Flag was square-shaped, and often times, the Alabama flag is displayed as a square as well.

Interestingly enough, there is a long standing debate as to the proper shape of the Alabama Flag. The legislation that originally created the Alabama state flag never actually specified if the flag was meant to be square or rectangular.

According to the authors of a 1917 article in National Geographic, the Alabama flag should be square, as it was originally meant to be based upon the Confederate Battle Flag. In 1987, however, the office of Alabama Attorney General Don Siegelman issued a differing opinion. Attorney General Siegelman concluded that the proper shape of the Alabama flag should be rectangular, just as it had been depicted numerous times in official publications.

Unbeknownst to most, the saltire design of the Alabama flag bears a striking resemblance to several other flags. The Alabama flag is actually identical to the flag of Saint Patrick, which has since been incorporated into the Union Flag of the UK. Also, some historians believe that the Alabama flag owes its origins to a simplification of the Cross of Burgundy Flag. This flag was used by the Spanish in the New Spain, and also was the basis of many military flags.

Alabama 7th Cavalry Flag — Alabama 7th Cavalry Brigade Flag

Another remote, but possible inspiration for the Alabama flag was that of the flag carried by The Alabama 7th Cavalry. The regiment was the only Alabama regiment in Rucker’s Brigade that was commanded by Col. Edmund Rucker of Tennessee, who would later command troops in Alabama as well. The brigade flag consisted of a white background with a red saltire that was decorated with 13 bluish-green stars upon it. This flag was meant to be used as Col. Rucker’s Color Guard. It is currently held as part of the Alabama Civil War Period Flag Collection by the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

For more information about the Alabama flag, be sure to check out www.united-states-flag.com for the lowest prices and latest flag news information anywhere!