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Flag of Vermont

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Vermont
UseState flag
Proportion1:1.66
AdoptedJune 1, 1923
DesignThe Vermont State Coat of Arms on a field of azure.

The Flag of Vermont consists of the state's Coat of arms and motto. The Vermont General Assembly adopted the current flag on June 1, 1923.

Multiple versions of the flag have been included throughout history. Originally, the flag was the same as the Flag of the Green Mountain Boys. It was then changed to look similar to the flag of the United States, consisting of red and white stripes, and a blue top left corner. It was changed to be dissimilar to avoid confusion.[1] Proposals have been brought up to revert the flag back to the Green Mountain Boys flag, but none have succeeded.

Symbolism

The flag consists of the state's Coat of arms and motto on a field of azure. While the pine needle supporters of the coat of arms are represented throughout New England, the pine tree in the middle of the Coat of arms represents the Vermont forests.[2] The cow and three sheaves of wheat represent the dairy and agriculture industries.[3] The deer head on top represents Vermont's wildlife.[2] The Green Mountains are in the background as well. The motto, "Freedom and Unity", is also used. The motto balances two different ideals, the freedom of the individual citizen, and the welfare of the common good.

History

Historic Vermont Flags

Vermont Republic
1760s – April 30, 1804

May 1, 1804 – October 19, 1837

October 20, 1837 – May 31, 1923

From the establishment of the Vermont Republic in 1777, through admission to statehood in 1791, and on to 1804, Vermont had no official flag. It used both the flag of the Green Mountain Boys and later Governor’s flag (above) informally.

On May 1, 1804, the number of U.S. states rose to seventeen, and it was expected that the U.S. flag would change to 17 stars and 17 stripes. In recognition, Vermont adopted what was expected to be the new U.S. flag with the addition of the name "VERMONT" embroidered along the top. The U.S. flag did not actually change, resulting in the Vermont flag having more stars and stripes than the national flag.[1]

On October 20, 1837, Vermont changed its flag to a design based on the current 13-stripe U.S. flag, but with the multiple stars of the blue canton replaced with a single large star surrounding Vermont’s coat of arms. The flags based on these specifications varied in the number of points on the star (five and eight, with eight slightly more common), and the exact details of the center of the star (with either the Great Seal or the Coat-of-Arms being used).[1]

Because of confusion with the U.S. flag, the design of the Vermont Governor’s Flag was adopted as the official state flag on June 1, 1923.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Vermont State Flag - About the Vermont Flag, its adoption and history from NETSTATE.COM".
  2. ^ a b "Vermont State Symbols".
  3. ^ "Vermont State Flag".


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