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The Missouri State Flag
A design by Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver was adopted as the official Missouri State Flag on March 22, 1913; almost 92 years after Missouri became the 24th State to join the union. This design was for a rectangular flag, consisting of three horizontal red, white and blue stripes. These stripes represent valor, purity and vigilance and justice. A circle is centered on the flag surrounded by a band of blue enclosing the Missouri Coat of Arms on a white background. The blue band displays 24 white five-pointed stars representing Missouri as the 24th State.
The shield of the Missouri Coat of Arms shows, on the right, a Bald Eagle grasping the olive branches of peace and the arrows of war in its talons. This represents the strength and powers of the Federal Government. On the left side of the shield (the state side) are a grizzly bear and a crescent moon. The grizzly bear symbolizes the strength and bravery of the citizens of the State. The crescent moon symbolizes the State of Missouri at the time of its induction into the union; a State with a small population and wealth and huge potential. The crescent moon also symbolizes the "second son." Missouri was the second State to be carved from the territory acquired with the Louisiana Purchase. The shield is encircled by a belt inscribed "United we stand, divided we fall" indicating the advantage of the union of the United States. Two more grizzly bears, one on each side of the shield, echo the bravery and strength of the State's citizens. They are standing on a scroll displaying the Missouri State Motto, Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto (Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law). Below the scroll are the Roman Numerals for 1820, the year that Missouri became a member of the United States. Above the shield a helmet is depicted, representing Missouri as a sovereign State. A large star surrounded by 23 smaller stars signifies Missouri's status as the 24th State. A cloud around the large star represents the difficulties that Missouri endured on its way to Statehood. Missouri Flag Lawthe following information was excerpted from the Missouri Revised Statutes, Title 2, Chapter 10, Section 10.020. TITLE II: SOVEREIGNTY, JURISDICTION AND EMBLEMS.
Flag, official--design of--original design--where kept. 10.020. The official flag of the state of Missouri is rectangular in shape and its vertical width is to the horizontal length as seven is to twelve. It has one red, one white and one blue horizontal stripe of equal width; the red is at the top and the blue at the bottom. In the center of the flag there is a band of blue in the form of a circle enclosing the coat of arms in the colors as established by law on a white ground. The width of the blue band is one-fourteenth of the vertical width of the flag and the diameter of the circle is one-third of the horizontal length of the flag. In the blue band there are set at equal distances from each other twenty-four five-pointed stars. The original copy of the design shall be kept in the office of the secretary of state. The flag shall conform to the design set out on page xxx, RSMo. (RSMo 1939 § 15438, RSMo 1949 § 10.080, A.L. 1957 p. 726) Prior revisions: 1929 § 14313; 1919 § 1160 Source: Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Revised Statutes, , August 13, 2007.
Additional InformationMissouri (U.S.): FOTW "Flags of the World" Web Site. State Flags: Complete list of state flags with links to large pictures and images suitable for coloring. Flag Terminology: The parts of a flag and terms associated with its design. Visit Our Flag Shop: Purchase all kinds of flags and banners, lapel pins, 50 state flag sets, decals, patches, college banners at the Flag Shop. Flags of the Fifty States and their Incredible Histories: A complete guide to America's most powerful symbols by Randy Howe. How Proudly They Wave: Flags of the Fifty States: This book, by Rita D. Haban, is geared toward younger readers. |
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