The Little Bird© A Twice-Weekly Newsletter For Curious Seniors Nancy A. Franks, Editor Topic: State Flags - Part I “Where’d you hear that?” “The Little Bird© told me!” Indiana Rhode Island Wyoming (PhotoSource: usflagstore.com) (Photo (Photo Source: usflagstore.com) Photo Source: Source: usflagstore.com) Photo ( Indiana’s state flag features 19 stars, The thirteen gold stars on the state Verna Keays secured her place in more than any other state flag. Fans of flag remind us that Rhode Island was history. In 1916, the Daughters of The the 1989 movie, Batman, may notice the 13th original colony to ratify the American Revolution held a contest to some similarities between the Gotham Constitution. An anchor and the design the Wyoming' state flag. flag and the state flag of Indiana. word, “hope” have been part of the Verna’s red, white, and blue buffalo Rhode Island Seal since 1640. They design was chosen out of the 37 entries. were added to the state flag in 1897. She was awarded $20, the equivalent The symbol and word are believed to of about $500 today. One have been inspired by a Bible quote modification was made from Verna’s (Hebrews, Verse 16-18), “hope we original design. The buffalo was (Photo Source: fotw.info) have as an anchor in the soul”. turned to face the flag pole. Washington California Louisiana ) cajungrocer.com (PhotoSource: (Photo (Photo Source: usflagstore.com) (Photo Source: Source: usflagstore.com) (Photo Washington flies the only state flag That bear on the California state The state bird of Louisiana, the Eastern that features an image of an actual flag has a name. Newspaper mogul Brown Pelican, is featured on the state person. Rhode Island native Gilbert William Randolph Hearts brought a flag. Early settlers incorrectly Stuart painted this portrait of President grizzly bear to Golden Gate Park in believed that if unable to locate food, George Washington in 1796. It has San Francisco and named him a mother pelican would tear her own appeared on the $1 bill for over a Monarch. A sketch of Monarch flesh and feed her blood to her young. century, been featured on postage served as a model for the state flag That’s why the three red drops of blood stamps, and is part of the Washington that was adopted in 1911. When are included on the flag. Earlier state seal. This flag is also the only state Monarch died that same year, his versions of the flag included up to flag with a green background - a nod to pelt was stuffed. Monarch is still on twelve pelican chicks in the nest, the state’s nickname, the evergreen display at the California State although a mother pelican rarely has a state. Academy Of Science. clutch size over three. Arizona Alaska Colorado ) re.com) judge.me (Photo Source: Source: (Photo usflagstore.com) (Photo Source: Source: (Photo (Photo Source: Source: usflagsto (Photo When the Arizona Riffle Team was In 1926, the Alaskan chapter of the In 1910, a Colorado chapter of the heading to the 1910 National Matches, American Legion invited students in Daughters Of The American Colonel Charles W. Harris designed a grades 7-12 to design a flag for the Resolution (DAR) invited residents to flag for them. In the past, they had been territory. John Ben “Benny” Benson, submit designs for a state flag. The the only team without their own flag. a thirteen year-old living in an following year, Andrew Carlisle Seven years later, Harris’s flag was orphanage, submitted an entry. It Carson’s winning submission was adopted as the state’s official flag. The featured a dark blue field officially adopted. From 1911 to 1964, large copper star in the center of the containing seven gold stars forming the C was much smaller. In 1964, the flag reminds us that Arizona was, and the Big Dipper and the North Star. legislature mandated that the size of continues to be, the top copper Benny’s flag was selected from 700 the yellow disc within the C be equal producing state in the country. The entries. The talented teen won an to the width of the white stripe. yellow and red rays represent the engraved watch and a $1,000 thirteen original colonies. Their colors scholarship which he used to study also match the color of the Spanish flag diesel mechanics. Benny’s flag was 1964 brought to Arizona by Coronado in adopted on July 9, 1927. Alaska - 1540. The red and blue included on the kept the territorial flag when it 1911 (Photo Source: graphicology.com) flag are the state colors of Arizona. became a state in 1959. Hawaii Maryland Ohio .com) store.com) hawaiibeachrentals (PhotoSource: (Photo Source: Source: usflagstore.com) (Photo (Photo Source: Source: usflag (Photo In 1793, Hawaii’s King Kamehameha I The Maryland state flag, adopted in For almost a century, the state of Ohio received a British flag as a gift of 1904, is bright and bold. In 1632, did not have a state flag. Architect friendship from King George III. Until English nobleman Cecil Calvert John Eisenmann designed a unique 1816, the Union Jack was flown received a charter for the new flag for the Pan American Exposition, throughout the kingdom. At that time, colony of Maryland. The black and a World’s Fair held in Buffalo, New King Kamehameha I commissioned a gold pattern on the state flag is the York from May to November 1901. It new flag. The Union Jack was moved to Calvert family’s coat of arms. Cecil was the only state flag that was not a the top left corner. Eight red, white, and Calvert’s mother was part of the rectangle. The seventeen white stars blue stripes were added. The stripes Crosslands family. The red and were a salute to Ohio being the 17th represent the United States and the white cross-bottony design is the state admitted to the Union. Sadly, eight major islands of Hawaii - Hawaii, Crosslands family’s coat of arms. President William McKinley, a native Maui, Kohoolawe, Molokai, Lanai, Maryland flies one of just four state of Ohio, was assassinated at the Pan Oahu, Kauai, and Niiahau. The flag flags that does not include the color American Exposition where the flag was adopted in 1845. blue. The other three are Alabama, made its debut. The flag was adopted California, and New Mexico. as the official state flag in 1902. South Carolina Oregon Massachusetts (Photo (Photo Source: usflagstore.com) Source: usflagstore.com) (Photo The crescent moon on the state flag of South Carolina has a long, rich history. This could be one of the last times that It first appeared as a badge on the you see this version of the helmets of Revolutionary War soldiers Massachusetts state flag! Both the state seal and the state flag are about from South Carolina.‘ (Photo Source: usflags.com) to get a makeover. Since 1984, Native Oregon became the only state to fly Americans have lobbied to change the a two-sided state flag after flag. Finally, on January 6, 2021, Massachusetts changed its flag in Massachusetts Governor Charlie 1971. The front of the navy blue flag Baker signed a resolve calling for the includes the state seal, the words, (PhotoSource: carolana.com) formation of a commission to review “State of Oregon”, and 1859, the The soft wood of the palmetto tree the flag and seal and make year that Oregon was admitted to absorbed the force of cannon balls and recommendations for changes. the union. The reverse side gives thus protected the soldiers during the Elizabeth Solomon of the tribute to the state’s nickname, “the war. Massachusetts Tribe at Ponkapoag beaver state”. feels that the images on the state flag Tennessee New Mexico of Massachusetts “promote a history of conquest, appropriation, and genocide”. Don’t miss the next issue of The Little Bird©! (PhotoSource: usflagstore.com) XXX The Little Bird (PhotoSource: usflagstore.com) People assume that the three white Sources: stars on Tennessee’s state flag represent American archaeologist Harry www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-only-two- sided-state-flag, bestlifeonline.com/state-flag- facts, the fact that Tennessee was the third Mera entered a contest in 1920 to www.randmcnally.com/blog/post/10-things-you- may- not-know-about-u.s.-state-flags, state to be admitted to the Union. Lee design the first official state flag of www.ri.gov/facts/factsfigures.php, Roy Reeves, the creator of the flag, had New Mexico. He chose the red and www.jimgatchell.com/exhibits/w yomings- betsy-ross- verna-keays-keyes-2, changethemassflag.com, another reason. He chose the three yellow colors of Old Spain, making it www.sos.wa.gov/flag/history.aspx, www.patriotwood.com/blogs/news/1 71377223-5-facts- white stars to represent the three the only state flag that does not every-californian-should- know-about-their-state-flag, www.volunteertraditions.com/blogs/volunteer- different regions of the state – West include either the color white or the traditions/7435496-a-brief-history-of-the-louis iana-flag, Tennessee, East Tennessee, and Middle color blue. The flag of New Mexico www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/la_flag.htm, https://www.patriotwood.com/blogs/news/15596093-3- Tennessee. In 1976, the United States even has its own salute which is often interesting-maryland-flag-facts, kids.kiddle.co/Flag_of_Maryland, Post Office released a postate stamp recited after the pledge to the wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Benny_Benson, with the flag upside down. People American flag. The four points of the www.50states.com/flag/ohflag.htm, www.allstarflags.com/facts/state-flag-descriptions, often make this mistake.