Flag of Massachusetts

Last updated

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
Use Civil and state flag FIAV 110000.svg FIAV normal.svg IFIS Mirror.svg
Proportion3:5
AdoptedJuly 3, 1971;53 years ago (1971-07-03)
DesignA state coat of arms on a white field.
Flag of the governor of Massachusetts
Flag of the Governor of Massachusetts.svg
DesignState flag in the form of a pennant.
Massachusetts ensign
Naval Ensign of Massachusetts.svg
Use Naval ensign FIAV 000001.svg FIAV normal.svg IFIS Mirror.svg
Adopted1971;53 years ago (1971)
DesignA green tree on a white field.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been represented by official but limited-purpose flags since 1676, though until 1908 it had no state flag per se to represent its government. A variant of the white flag with blue seal was carried by each of the Massachusetts volunteer regiments during the American Civil War alongside the National Colors. An exception were the two "Irish regiments" (the 9th and 28th Volunteers), each of which was permitted to carry an alternative green flag with a harp symbol.

Contents

The state currently has three official flags: a state flag, a governor's flag, and a "naval and maritime flag" (despite it no longer having its own naval militia). With Florida, it is one of only two state flags to prominently feature a Native American in its heraldry. In 2001, a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) placed Massachusetts's state flag 38th in design quality out of 72 flags (U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial). [1]

In early 2021, then-Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill to change the state flag and seal. As of 2022, the redesign was not complete and the commission asked to extend the deadline to 2023.[ citation needed ] In 2023 the commission concluded without recommending specific replacements for either flag or seal, though the commission's co-chair Brian Boyles stated that he and his colleagues had made significant progress on the issue. [2]

State flag

The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts displays, on both sides, the state coat of arms on a white field. The shield is meant to depict an Algonquian Native American with bow and arrow; the arrow is pointed downward, signifying peace. However, the face of the figure is modelled on a photo of Ojibwe chief Thomas Little Shell. [3] A white star with five points appears next to the figure's head, signifying Massachusetts as a U.S. state. A blue ribbon surrounds the shield, bearing the state motto Ense Petit Placidam, Sub Libertate Quietem ("By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty"). [4]

Above the shield is the state military crest: the bent arm holding a broadsword aloft. The sword has its blade up, to remind that it was through the American Revolution that liberty was won. The sword itself is a copy of one belonging to Myles Standish [5] and signifies the philosophy that one would rather lose their right arm than live under tyranny.[ citation needed ] [6]

The state flag was officially adopted in 1907, but had been used unofficially since the American Revolutionary War as the ensign of the Massachusetts State Navy. In 1971, the earlier pine tree was replaced by the current design. [7]

Attempts to change the flag

A flag that was incorrectly displayed as the Massachusetts state flag on a fake "Refugee Benefits" brochure distributed to the Martha's Vineyard migrants in 2022. It had originally been designed by Will Bodine in 2020, as a proposed flag for Massachusetts. The flower on the shield is a mayflower, the official state flower, while the six stars represent Massachusetts' status as the sixth state to join the Union. Erroneous flag of Massachusetts (2022).svg
A flag that was incorrectly displayed as the Massachusetts state flag on a fake "Refugee Benefits" brochure distributed to the Martha's Vineyard migrants in 2022. It had originally been designed by Will Bodine in 2020, as a proposed flag for Massachusetts. The flower on the shield is a mayflower, the official state flower, while the six stars represent Massachusetts' status as the sixth state to join the Union.

On January 11, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill establishing a commission to change the state flag and seal by October 1, 2021 that will "faithfully reflect and embody the historic and contemporary commitments of the Commonwealth to peace, justice, liberty and equality and to spreading the opportunities and advantages of education." [10] The bill was previously approved by the Massachusetts Senate on July 28, 2020. [11] The Special Commission on Massachusetts Flag and Seal (Special Commission to Investigate the Features of the Official Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth) first met in July 2021. [12] In April 2022 the Commission voted to ask the state legislature to extend the deadline for completion of the Commission's work to March 31, 2023 [13] In May 2022, the Commission recommended changing the seal, motto, and flag, [14] however the Commission failed to agree upon a proposal. With lawmakers not having extended the deadline past December 31, 2022, and the Commission's own deadline having expired at the end of March 2023, as well as UMass Amherst polling showing lukewarm support for a change, the issue appears to be closed for the present time. [15]

In April 1776, the Massachusetts State Navy adopted, as its flag (naval ensign), a white field charged with a green pine tree and the motto "An Appeal to Heaven." In 1971 the motto was removed, and the flag was designated "the naval and maritime flag of the Commonwealth". [19]

Massachusetts is one of only three states with its own maritime ensign. The second is Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820. Third and last is South Carolina, which activated her navy twice: first during the American Revolutionary War and again during the American Civil War.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Hawaii</span>

The flag of Hawaii was first adopted in the early 19th century by the Hawaiian Kingdom and continued to be used after its overthrow in 1893. It is the only U.S. state flag to feature a foreign country's national flag—that of the Union Jack—which commemorates the British Royal Navy's historical relations with the Kingdom of Hawaii, and in particular the pro-British sentiment of its first ruler, King Kamehameha I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of New York</span>

The coat of arms of the state of New York was formally adopted in 1778, and appears as a component of the state's flag and seal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Ensign</span> British civil ensign

The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is the civil ensign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is one of the British ensigns, and it is used either plain or defaced with either a badge or a charge, mostly in the right half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flags of the U.S. states and territories</span>

The flags of the U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Modern U.S. state flags date from the turn of the 20th century, when states considered distinctive symbols for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 and World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Connecticut</span> U.S. state flag

The flag of the state of Connecticut is a white baroque shield with three grapevines, each bearing three bunches of purple grapes on a field of royal blue. The banner below the shield reads "Qui Transtulit Sustinet", Latin for "He who transplanted sustains", Connecticut's state motto. The flag dimensions are 5.5 feet (1.7 m) in length and 4.33 feet (1.32 m) in width.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Maine</span>

The flag of Maine features the state coat of arms on a blue field. In the center of a heraldic shield, a moose rests under a tall pine tree. A farmer and seaman are meant to represent the traditional reliance on agriculture and the sea by the state. The North Star is intended to allude to the state motto: dirigo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Rhode Island</span>

The flag of the Rhode Island is white and consists of a gold anchor in the center surrounded by thirteen gold stars. A blue ribbon below the anchor bears the state's motto in gold: "HOPE". The flag is frequently depicted with golden fringe around the edges of the flag, although the fringe is never actually on the flag unless it is used in federal-level displays, much like the national flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gadsden flag</span> Historical American flag

The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Beneath the rattlesnake are the words Dont Tread on Me. Some modern versions of the flag include an apostrophe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag and seal of New Hampshire</span> Official flag and government emblem of the U.S. state of New Hampshire

The U.S. state of New Hampshire has held two seals since it declared its independence from Great Britain on January 5, 1776. While both seals have been retained, most people are only familiar with the Great Seal due to its corporate use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seal of Kentucky</span> Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Kentucky

The Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky was adopted in December 1792. Since that time, it has undergone several revisions. The current seal depicts two men, one in buckskin, and the other in more formal dress. The men are facing each other and clasping hands. The outer ring of the seal is adorned with the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky", and within the inner circle is the state motto "United we stand, divided we fall." The official colors of the seal are blue and gold. A version of the seal appears on the flag of Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seal of Maine</span> Official government emblem of the U.S, state of Maine

The Great Seal of the State of Maine was adopted in June 1820. The concept of the design is attributed to Benjamin Vaughan of Hallowell, Maine, while the original sketch is credited to Bertha Smouse, the step-daughter of Col. Isaac Reed of Waldoboro, Maine, who purportedly wrote its official description and explanation. There have been variations in the details of the seal, but the overall design and images remain true to the original. The center of the seal is a shield adorned with a tranquil scene of a moose resting in a field bordered by water and woods; a pine tree stands tall directly behind the moose. On either side of the shield, a farmer rests on his scythe, and a sailor leans on an anchor. Above the shield is the motto "Dirigo" and a stylized North Star. Below the shield is a banner that reads "Maine". The legislature of 1919 decided that the design of the seal should no longer vary, and the design is still used today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag and seal of Idaho</span> Official flag and government emblem of the U.S. state of Idaho

The seal of the Territory of Idaho was adopted in 1863 and redrawn several times before statehood in 1890. The first state Great Seal was designed in the 1890s by Emma Edwards Green, the only woman to design a U.S. state seal. That seal was used until 1957, when the seal was slightly redrawn by Paul B. Evans and the Caxton Printers, Ltd. at the request of the state government, in order to add more anthropocentric elements to the centered shield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seal of Massachusetts</span> Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Massachusetts

The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contains the coat of arms of Massachusetts. The coat of arms is encircled by the Latin text "Sigillum Reipublicæ Massachusettensis". The Massachusetts Constitution designates the form of government a "commonwealth", for which respublica is the correct Latin term. The seal uses the coat of arms of Massachusetts as its central element.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ensign of the United States</span> Flag of the United States

The ensign of the United States is the flag of the United States when worn as an ensign. International maritime law—see International Treaty on Law of the Sea, articles 91 and 92—provides that vessels have a "national character" and thus should display a flag (ensign) that corresponds to this national character, especially when in international or foreign waters. Vessels that are formally documented under the federal vessel documentation act, vessels owned by government bodies in the United States, and vessels in the U.S. military unquestionably have U.S. national character, and thus properly hoist a U.S. ensign to show their national character. Vessels that are numbered by the states and small, non-registered craft owned by U.S. citizens and not registered in other countries may also hoist a U.S. ensign to show their national character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Wisconsin</span>

The state flag of Wisconsin was first adopted in 1863, and was modified in 1979. It is a blue flag charged with the state coat of arms of Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of New England</span>

New England has no official flag. However, there have been many historical or modern banners used to represent the region in its history. While there are some variations, common designs include a plain colored field with a pine tree in the canton. The eastern white pine is the most common and prominent symbol of New England and is featured on many of the region's flags.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine Tree Flag</span> American Revolutionary-era flag

The Pine Tree Flag was one of the flags used during the American Revolution. The flag, which featured a pine tree with the motto "An Appeal to Heaven", or less frequently "An Appeal to God", was used by a squadron of six schooners commissioned under George Washington's authority as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army beginning in October 1775.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Boston</span> Official flag of the U.S. capital of Boston

The flag of Boston consists of a sky blue field and the seal of the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, in the center. The flag is sometimes flown in a darker shade of blue, more of a turquoise. It was designed in 1913 and adopted by the Boston City Council on January 29, 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Maine (1901–1909)</span> Official flag of the U.S. state of Maine from 1901 to 1909

The flag of the U.S. state of Maine from 1901 to 1909 was the first official flag to be used to represent the state other than its militia; it was later replaced by a more standard military-style flag in 1909.

References

  1. "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org" (PDF). nava.org.
  2. "Commission to rethink state seal and motto concludes with no specific proposal for either". 14 November 2023.
  3. "History". 26 November 2018.
  4. CIS: Latin Translation
  5. Seal of the Commonwealth
  6. CIS: State Symbols,
  7. CIS: State Symbols
  8. Spencer Buell (21 September 2022). "How did an image of a fake Massachusetts flag end up in a brochure for Martha's Vineyard migrants?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. "'Baffles me': Man's redesigned Massachusetts state flag put on pamphlets given to migrants". WCVB. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. Governor Baker Signs the Bill Establishing a Special Commission to Change the Mass Flag and Seal
  11. "Mass. Senate OK's bill reviewing controversial state seal, flag". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  12. "After Six Month Delay, Special Commission on Massachusetts Flag and Seal to Meet Monday, July 19th". Change the Mass Flag. 2021-07-17. Archived from the original on Dec 2, 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  13. Reilly, Adam (19 April 2022). "Commission to review Mass. state seal and motto struggling to get the job done". WGBH. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  14. "Panel recommends replacing Massachusetts seal, motto". Associated Press. 14 May 2022.
  15. "For Massachusetts, no news of a new state seal or motto". News. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  16. 1 2 David B. Martucci. "The New England Flag". D. Martucci. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  17. Historical Flags of Our Ancestors. "Flags of the Early North American Colonies and Explorers". Loeser.is. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  18. "New England flags (U.S.)". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  19. M.G.L. - Chapter 2, Section 3