Alaska State Flag: History, Design, Trivia

DATE FIRST USED   Alaska State Flag 1959 NICKNAME(S) None DESIGN ELEMENTS Blue with eight golden-yellow, five-pointed stars. One larger star sits in the fly's top right corner. The other smaller stars form the Big Dipper constellation across the flag's lower hoist corner.  Symbols: Golden-yellow five-pointed stars. The larger star is positioned near the top fly corner, and represents the North Star. It symbolizes the state of Alaska's prospects, and also shows that Alaska is the country's northernmost state. The seven smaller stars form the pattern of the Big Dipper across the lower hoist corner. The Big Dipper is also called the Great Bear, so it can be interpreted as a symbol of strength. Colors: Blue and golden yellow. According to the designer, the blue background represents both Alaska's blue sky and the forget-me-not, a common Alaskan wildflower. Golden yellow represents Alaska's rich natural resources. Proportions: 125:177 Variations:  None HISTORY The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867, and the U.S. flag began flying there later that year. Though talk of Alaska becoming a territory and then a state began almost immediately, the process went very slowly. Alaska didn't become a territory until 1912, and did not design a flag until 1927, which was still 30 years before it was recognized as a state. In the late 1920s, the territorial governor decided that a flag was needed, so the Alaska Department of the American Legion held a contest for Alaskan children in grades seven to 12. Organizers circulated contest rules in the territory in the beginning of 1927. The initial phase of the competition was held at the local level. Each town had its own panel of judges, including an American Legion member, a school superintendent, a school principal or a teacher, and one other resident. The local panels selected the ten best designs and sent them to Juneau for the final judging. One hundred and forty-two entries made it to the finals. Many entries were not distinctive, and others were just too complex. The winning design was simple and different, gold stars on a blue background. The artist was John Benson, known as Benny, a motherless 13-year-old living in a children's home. It was adopted as the territorial flag the same year, and continued as the state flag when Alaska officially joined the Union in 1959. PROPER USES The flag is to be treated with care and respect. It is never allowed to touch the ground, and must be handled with due care during hoisting or lowering. The flag should never be deliberately torn or marked. Flags that become dirty or tattered through normal use should be replaced and disposed of privately, usually by burning. In general, the Alaskan flag should be flown or displayed in the place of honor within the state, but the U.S. flag and any other national flags take precedence. For example, the Alaskan flag should be hoisted to a lower height that the American flag when they're flying on separate flagpoles. When they fly on the same pole, the American flag is on top and the Alaskan flag below it. LEGENDS, CONTROVERSIES, AND TRIVIA Benny Benson became something of a legend in Alaska by designing the state flag. His useful ideas became an embodiment of the need to respect young people's opinions. Benson even has a road named after him in Anchorage, Benny Benson Drive. There are also schools and vocational institutions named in his honor. -World Trade Press

California State Flag: History, Design, Trivia

DATE FIRST USED   California State Flag June 14, 1846 (officially adopted 1911)  NICKNAME(S) The Bear Flag DESIGN ELEMENTS A white field with a red, five-pointed star in the canton and a brown grizzly bear facing toward the hoist side with all four paws on a green grass plot and head and eye turned slightly toward the observer; a red stripe forms the length of the flag at the bottom, and between the grass plot and the red stripe appear the words "California Republic" in upper-case letters. Symbols: A California grizzly bear and a single red, five-pointed star. The bear symbolizes strength and unyielding resistance; the star was a reference to the California Lone Star flag, which itself referenced the lone star on the flag of the Texas Republic. Colors: White, red, light brown, dark brown, and green. Proportions:  The size of the bear is 2/3 the size of the hoist width.The hoist or flag width is two-thirds of the fly or flag length; the red stripe width is one-sixth of the hoist width. The height of the condensed gothic letters, as shown on the representation, is one-half of the red stripe width and they occupy a lineal space of two-thirds of the fly length with the beginning and ending letters of the words equidistant from the fly ends. Variations: None HISTORY The use of the word "Republic" on the Golden State's flag may seem curious, but review California's contentious history and the reasons behind it become immediately clear. California had been part of Mexico since Mexican independence in 1821, as the department of Alta California (it was previously under the control of Spain). In 1836, rebels captured Monterey and declared California "a free and sovereign state." While this rebellion against Mexico ultimately failed, it did inspire the design of California's first flag, The Lone Star Flag. This design featured a single red star on a white background, and was inspired by the flag of the Texas Republic. The exact creation date of the Bear Flag is unclear. William L. Todd, a nephew of Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd, designed the first Bear Flag, and U. S. Naval Lieutenant John Missroon reported the flag's existence as of June 17, 1846. In a 1878 letter, Todd states that the star was drawn using blackberry juice and was an homage to the California Lone Star Flag. On June 14, 1846, a small band of settlers marched on the Mexican garrison at Sonoma and issued a proclamation, declaring California to be a republic independent of Mexico. This uprising became known as the Bear Flag Revolt. The flag only flew until July 9, 1846, when it was learned that Mexico and the United States were already at war (see Legends, Controversies, and Trivia section below). Soon after, the Bear Flag was replaced with the American Stars and Stripes. The State Legislature finally adopted the Bear Flag as the official state flag in 1911. PROPER USES Within the state of California, the Bear Flag should occupy a position of honor when displayed (except in the instance when it is displayed along with the United States flag). It should be raised briskly and lowered slowly. It is customary to only display the flag from sunrise to sunset. If displayed at night, it should be illuminated. The flag should not be carried flat or horizontally, and should always be attached to a staff. The flag should never be used to cover a display, speaker's desk, or platform. When displayed alongside the U.S. flag from a separate flagpole, both flags should be of equal size and the flagpoles of equal length. The U.S. flag should be raised first and lowered last. The Bear Flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as will permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.  LEGENDS, CONTROVERSIES, AND TRIVIA On July 9, 1846, Navy Lt. Joseph Warren Revere arrived in Sonoma and lowered the Bear Flag, replacing it with the Stars and Stripes. This flag was given to young John E. Montgomery (who would later write in a letter to his mother "Cuffy [the bear] came down growling.") In 1848, Montgomery returned with the U.S.S. Portsmouth to the East Coast, bringing the historic flag with him. In 1855 it was returned to California, gifted to California's two senators at the time, John B. Weller and William M. Gwin. The Bear Flag was donated to the Society of California Pioneers on September 8, 1855, and was preserved at the Society's Pioneer Halls in San Francisco until it was destroyed on April 18, 1906, in the fires that followed the great San Francisco earthquake. Today, a replica hangs on display in the Sonoma Barracks, or El Presidio de Sonoma. There is also a statue in the plaza of Sonoma, California, commemorating the raising of the flag, the Bear Flag Monument. The bear that inspired the design of California's current Bear Flag was modeled on the last wild California Grizzly Bear in captivity, named Monarch. It was captured at Samhain by reporter Allen Kelley at the behest of California newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and subsequently moved to Woodward's Gardens in San Francisco. After Monarch's death in 1911, the bear was preserved at the California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park. -World Trade Press

Pennsylvania State Flag: History, Design, Trivia

DATE FIRST USED   Pennsylvania State Flag June 13, 1907 NICKNAME(S) None DESIGN ELEMENTS Blue background and the state coat of arms. Symbols: The Pennsylvania coat of arms. The central shield, which also appears on the state seal, is divided horizontally into three parts, depicting, from top to bottom, a ship in full sail, a plow, and three sheaves of wheat. These represent commerce, work, and agriculture, all historically important to the state's economy. A cornstalk frames the shield on the left and an olive branch outlines the right, representing the state's Native American past and hopes for a peaceful future, respectively. A bald eagle, representing the state's loyalty to the national government, perches on the shield, which is supported by two horses harnessed to pull a cart, also signifying work. The state's motto, "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence," appears on a ribbon below. Colors: Blue, red, black, yellow, green, brown, white, and light blue. The blue background of the Pennsylvania flag is the same blue as on the national flag, implying allegiance, and standing for justice and loyalty. The other colors make a picture. Proportions: 27:37 Variations: None HISTORY Though Pennsylvania did not have an official flag until 1799, early variations on the current flag were common for years before that. In 1778, the Pennsylvania Executive Council adopted a flag with the coat of arms to identify the province's wharf in Philadelphia. The state's general assembly approved an official flag with the state's coat of arms in 1799, but the law was otherwise not very specific. The background color and the picture elements varied, especially the horses, which were often white rather than black. The Pennsylvania coat of arms was better standardized in 1809, which also made flags more standard. Legislation specifically for the flag came a century later, in 1907. The background color was specified as the blue on the national flag, and other standardizations were introduced. In 2007, legislation to change the flag was proposed, but two years later no vote on the move had taken place. The idea was to add the name "Pennsylvania" to the flag to make it more easily identifiable. A number of ideas for how best to do this were proposed, including several that read "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;" the proposed law would have mandated the name in yellow under the coat of arms. PROPER USES In general, it is recommended that state flags be treated with the same respect as the U.S. national flag, though the national flag takes precedence, flying higher and always appearing to the viewer's right. Pennsylvania law actually stipulates that anyone who deliberately removes or damages a state flag with bad intent is guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor. Laws of this type can often be successfully challenged as a violation of freedom of expression, but remain on the books until a successful challenge is made in court. Flags at the Pennsylvania Capitol normally fly in almost all weather and around the clock. Flying a flag at night in the rain is also allowed in other states, but with the provision that flags must be properly lit all-weather flags. Otherwise, flags are generally hoisted at sunrise, lowered at sunset, and taken in when it starts to rain. LEGENDS, CONTROVERSIES, AND TRIVIA It is not known what color the 1778 flag actually was, just that the executive council clearly specified that the coat of arms should be embroidered on it. Some speculate that it was probably red, because most revolutionary flags in the colony were red. Also, the facings on Pennsylvania soldiers' uniforms were red, and several colonies matched their flags to their soldiers' coat facings. Many U.S. states designed their state flags especially for their infantry units to carry, but not Pennsylvania. During the American Civil War, most Pennsylvania units carried an American flag that had the Pennsylvania coat of arms in the blue canton along with the usual stars. Pennsylvania is one of many U.S. states that use a coat of arms on a blue background as a flag. These flags can be difficult to distinguish and generally rate poorly among vexillologists. In a 2001 survey of North American flags, Pennsylvania ranked 16th from the bottom, sharing a ranking with North Dakota. Proponents of adding the state name to their flag feel it would make this state emblem more recognizable. Many other Pennsylvanians, however, feel strongly that modifying their flag would be a mistake and prefer to keep the longstanding design as it is. -World Trade Press