The flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia consists of the seal of Virginia against a blue background. The current version of the flag was adopted at the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861. The flag may be decorated with a white fringe along the fly.[1]
The Latin motto, "Sic semper tyrannis," at the bottom of the state seal means "Thus Always to Tyrants." This quote is attributed to Brutus during the assassination of Julius Caesar in Rome. The woman is "Virtus the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon" (Code of Virginia § 1-500) and represents Virginia. The prostrate man represents tyranny; note the fallen crown to the right. The tyrant is holding both a chain and a scourge.
The General Assembly of Virginia adopted an official salute to the flag of Virginia in 1954. It reads:
| “ |
I salute the flag of Virginia,
with reverence and patriotic devotion
to the ‘Mother of States and Statesmen,’
which it represents—the ‘Old Dominion,’
where liberty and independence were born.[2]
|
” |
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial flags. NAVA's members ranked Virginia's flag 54th out of the 72.[3]
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