Flag of Massachusetts

Flag of the U.S. state of Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Use	Civil and state flag
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	1908; 113 years ago (1908)
Variant flag of Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Name	Flag of the governor of Massachusetts
Design	State flag in the form of a pennant
Variant flag of Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Name	Massachusetts Ensign
Adopted	1971; 50 years ago (1971)
Design	Ensign

The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the flag of Massachusetts. It has been represented by official but limited-purpose flags since 1676, though until 1908 it had no state flag per se to represent its government. A variant of the white flag with blue seal was carried by each of the Massachusetts volunteer regiments during the Civil War alongside the National Colors. An exception were the two "Irish regiments" (the 9th and 28th Volunteers), each of which was permitted to carry an alternative green flag with a harp symbol. The state currently has three official flags: a state flag, a "naval and maritime flag" (despite it no longer having its own navy), and a governor's flag. With Florida and Minnesota, it is one of only three state flags to prominently feature a Native American in its heraldry. In 2001, a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) placed Massachusetts's state flag 38th in design quality out of the 72 Canadian provincial, U.S. state and U.S. territorial flags ranked.^[1]

State flag

See also: Seal of Massachusetts

The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts displays, on both sides, the state coat of arms centered on a white field. The shield depicts an Algonquian Native American with bow and arrow; the arrow is pointed downward, signifying peace. A white star with five points appears next to the figure's head, signifying Massachusetts as a U.S. state. A blue ribbon surrounds the shield, bearing the state motto Ense Petit Placidam, Sub Libertate Quietem ("By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty").^[2] Above the shield is the state military crest: the bent arm holding a broadsword aloft. The sword has its blade up, to remind that it was through the American Revolution that liberty was won. The sword itself is a copy of one belonging to Myles Standish^[3] and signifies the philosophy that one would rather lose their right arm than live under tyranny.^{[citation needed][4]}

The state flag was officially adopted in 1907, but had been used unofficially since the American Revolutionary War as the ensign of the Massachusetts State Navy. In 1971, the earlier pine tree was replaced by the current design.^[5]

On January 11, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill establishing a commission to change the state flag and seal.^[6]

Historical and related flags

state flag of Massachusetts

• Red Ensign, an early flag flown by the Massachusetts Bay Colony

• Flag flown while Massachusetts was part of the Dominion of New England which used the personal standard of Edmund Andros

• Flown by Province of Massachusetts Bay which has the Flag of Great Britain in the canton.

• An early flag of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This version has Saint George's Cross removed, this was done for religious reasons by Puritan colonists.^[7]

• The Flag (and Ensign) of New England, used by merchant ships sailing out of New England ports.^[7][8]

• Variant flag of New England with cross removed from the canton.^[9] It was depicted by John Trumbull in The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775. This flag has also been adopted by the New England Revolution Major League Soccer team, The New England Independence Campaign, and Lincoln County, Maine.

• The flag of Massachusetts (reverse; 1908–1971)

Naval and maritime flag

In April 1776, the Massachusetts State Navy adopted, as its flag (naval ensign), a white field charged with a green pine tree and the motto "An Appeal to Heaven." In 1971 the motto was removed, and the flag was designated "the naval and maritime flag of the Commonwealth".^[10]

Massachusetts is one of only three states with its own maritime ensign. The first is Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820. The second is South Carolina, which activated her navy twice: first during the American Revolutionary War and again during the American Civil War.

• Current ensign, from 1971 onwards.

• Massachusetts naval ensign from 1776 to 1971

• Variant Massachusetts naval ensign

See also

• Flags of the Governors of the U.S. States
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Symbols of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    • Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    • Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Flag of New England
• Pine Tree Flag

References

1. "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org" (PDF). nava.org.
2. CIS: Latin Translation
3. https://malegislature.gov/VirtualTour/Artifact/63
4. CIS: State Symbols
5. CIS: State Symbols
6. https://changethemassflag.com/2021/01/12/governor-baker-signs-the-bill-establishing-a-special-commission-to-change-the-mass-flag-and-seal/
7. David B. Martucci. "The New England Flag". D. Martucci. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
8. 'Historical Flags of Our Ancestors'. "Flags of the Early North American Colonies and Explorers". Loeser.is. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
9. "New England flags (U.S.)". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
10. M.G.L. - Chapter 2, Section 3

External links

• Massachusetts (U.S.) at Flags of the World
• Massachusetts Naval Ensign (U.S.) at Flags of the World