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The Wyoming State FlagIn 1916, Wyoming was one of the few states in the union that could not claim an official state flag. Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Wyoming, was at that time state regent for the Daugters of the American Revolution (DAR). She suggested to the DAR that a flag should be designed for the state. An open competition for the design of an official Wyoming state flag was announced. A prize of $20.00 was offered for the flag design that was found most appropriate by the DAR at their state conference in Sheridan to be held in the late summer. The competition, advertised throughout the state, was noticed by Wilbur Parke Keays and he suggested to his daughter Verna that she submit a design to the DAR. Verna had just graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago. She had studied "Design and Decoration" at the institute. Verna did not immediately jump to the task as a school friend from Ohio was visiting for the summer. But as summer began to wane, the deadline for submission approached and her father's suggestions became more insistant, Verna decided that she should get down to business. One night Verna awakened from a sound sleep and a complete and perfect design for the state flag came to her. In her excitement, she attempted to arouse her friend to share her vision. Her friend mumbled and rolled over and back to sleep. In the morning Verna recreated the design that had come to her in the night finding great pleasure in the inspirational "... Source of all Creation." Verna managed to complete her design and submit it for consideration. Several days after she submitted the design, Dr. Hebard called her from Sheridan to inform her that her design had been awarded first place from among the thirty-seven entries. Verna was invited to the conference to speak and accept her $20.00 prize. With the assistance of Dr. Hebard, details of the design were perfected, a technical description was written and a bill was drafted for presentation to the Fourteenth State Legislature.
The state flag bill was introduced in the Senate by the Honorable W.W. Daley of Rawlins, Wyoming. Much humorous wrangling took place over whether the bison should be changed to a donkey, an elephant or a moose, representing the current political makeup of the state at that time. In the end, the bison remained and the bill was passed and the flag adopted on January 13, 1917. Governor Robert D. Carey signed the bill into law. In February of 1917, the State Legislature voted to have folders printed depicting the new state flag with a written description. These folders were distributed to every school child in the state of Wyoming. A bison, the Wyoming State mammal and often called the monarch of the plains, is centered on the flag. Branded on the bison is the Great Seal of Wyoming. In the original design approved by the State Legislature the bison is shown facing away from the staff. Verna had drawn the bison as facing away from the staff symbolizing the freedom with which the bison had once roamed over the Wyoming plains. Dr. Hebard had not agreed with this and suggested that better balance of design would be achieved if the bison faced the staff. This is the way that the first flags were manufactured and, though not "official" this is how the bison has been shown since 1917. The colors of the State Flag are the same as those of the National Flag. The red border represents the Indians who knew and loved the country long before the settlers came.; also the blood of the pioneers who gave their lives reclaiming the soil. White is the emblem of purity and uprightness over Wyoming. Blue, the color of the sky and mountains, is symbolic of fidelity, justice and virility. Wyoming Flag LawThe following information was excerpted from the Wyoming Code, Title 1, Chapter 4. Title 8 General Provisions
§ 8-3-102. Adoption, use and specifications of state flag; penalty for misuse. a) A state flag is adopted to be used on all occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented. All citizens have the privilege of use of the flag upon any occasion they deem appropriate. The width of the flag shall be seven-tenths (7/10) of its length; the outside border shall be in red, the width of which shall be one-twentieth (1/20) of the length of the flag; next to the border shall be a stripe of white on the four (4) sides of the field, which shall be in width one-fortieth (1/40) of the length of the flag. The remainder of the flag shall be a blue field, in the center of which shall be a white silhouetted buffalo, the length of which shall be one-half (1/2) of the length of the blue field; the other measurements of the buffalo shall be in proportion to its length. On the ribs of the buffalo shall be the great seal of the state of Wyoming in blue. The seal shall be in diameter one-fifth (1/5) the length of the flag. Attached to the flag shall be a cord of gold with gold tassels. The same colors shall be used in the flag, red, white and blue, as are used in the flag of the United States of America. (b) All penalties provided by the laws of this state for the misuse of the national flag are applicable to the state flag. (Laws 1917, ch. 8, §§ 1, 2; C.S. 1920, § 4525; Laws 1927, ch. 20, § 1; R.S. 1931, § 106-101; C.S. 1945, § 18-2202; W.S. 1957, § 8-44; W.S. 1977, § 8-5-102; Laws 1978, ch. 37, § 1.) § 8-3-103. State historian to purchase state flags; use. It is the duty of the state historian to purchase not less than six (6) state flags. The flags shall be kept at the office of the state historian to be loaned under rules and regulations he prescribes to any citizen, or group of citizens, of the state for use on such occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, or when public assemblies or gatherings are held. If any flag is borrowed from the office of the state historian, the citizen, or group of citizens, borrowing the flag shall deposit with the state historian a certified check in an amount sufficient to repair or replace the flag, if damaged or lost. No deposit is required of any officer of the state government who may be called upon to represent the state at any official function. (Laws 1917, ch. 8, §§ 1, 2; C.S. 1920, § 4525; Laws 1927, ch. 20, § 1; R.S. 1931, § 106-101; C.S. 1945, § 18-2202; W.S. 1957, § 8-44; W.S. 1977, § 8-5-102; Laws 1978, ch. 37, § 1.) Source: Wyoming State Legislature, Wyoming Statutes, , February 1, 2008.
Additional InformationWyoming (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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