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The Delaware State FlagThe State Flag of Delaware was adopted on July 24, 1913 and is steeped in references to the colonial era in which Delaware was one of the thirteen original colonies. In fact, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States and that fact is proudly represented on the state flag.
A field of colonial blue is the setting for a buff colored diamond in which the coat of arms of the state is displayed. Beneath the diamond and the coat of arms is the date, December 7, 1787. This is the day that Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution and the first state of a new nation. The colonial blue field and the buff colored diamond were said, by members of the commission established to design the state flag, to represent the colors of a uniform worn by General George Washington. And, indeed, some regiments of the Revolution wore blue coats with buff trim. The diamond is a reference to an early state nickname, the Diamond State, so given because of Delaware's small size and great value, evidenced in its geographical position on the Atlantic Ocean and its leadership contributions. The coat of arms depicts early occupational symbols for shipping, farming, hunting and cattle ranching. These symbols are defined in more detail in our description of Delaware's Great Seal. Delaware Flag LawThe following information was excerpted from the The Delaware Code, Title 29, Chapter 3. Title 29. State Government, General Provisions.
The design of the official state flag shall be as follows: A background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff in which diamond is placed the correct coat of arms of the State in the colors prescribed by law and in accordance with § 301 of this title, with the words, "December 7, 1787," to be inscribed underneath the diamond. The official state colors, colonial blue and buff, are designated by the Textile Color Card Association of the United States, Inc., New York, as "arno blue" Cable No. 10663, and "golden beige" Cable No. 10781 respectively; the color shades having been determined by Colorimetric Specifications of the National Bureau of Standards, United States Department of Commerce, in Test No. 2, 1/140565, dated November 18, 1954, which is on file with the Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware. The colors of the coat of arms and other elements of the state flag shall be the following: Husbandman, trousers of gray brown, shirt of red, hat and hilling hoe of brown; rifleman, suit of green, binding, bag and leggings of buff, hat of brown, powder flask and feather of gray; shield, frame of shaded yellow, top panel of orange, center panel of blue, lower panel of white, ox of red brown, grass and corn of green, wheat and branches underfoot of yellow, heraldric wreath to be blue and silver (twisted); ship under full sail to have a dark hull and white sails; date, December 7, 1787, to be white; cord and tassels to be blue and gold. (29 Del. C. 1953, § 506; 50 Del. Laws, c. 288, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 91, § 10.) Source: The Delaware General Assembly, Online Delaware Code, , July 7, 2007.
Additional InformationDelaware (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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