Design and Symbolism
The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue. These represent valor, purity, vigilance, and justice. The colors also reflect the state's historic status as part of the French Louisiana (New France). In the center white stripe is the Seal of Missouri, circled by a blue band containing 24 stars, symbolizing Missouri's admission as the 24th U.S. state.
Except for the Seal of Missouri in its middle, the flag is identical with the Flag of the Netherlands; this resemblance is not, however, intended to denote any special relation between Missouri and the Netherlands.
The flag is described in Section 010.020 of Missouri's Revised Statutes.
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 US State, US Territory and Canadian province flags. The Missouri flag ranked in the bottom 25, 48th out of the 72.
Read more about this topic: Flag Of Missouri
Famous quotes containing the words design and/or symbolism:
“You can make as good a design out of an American turkey as a Japanese out of his native stork.”
—For the State of Illinois, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“...I remembered the rose bush that had reached a thorny branch out through the ragged fence, and caught my dress, detaining me when I would have passed on. And again the symbolism of it all came over me. These memories and visions of the poor—they were the clutch of the thorns. Social workers have all felt it. It holds them to their work, because the thorns curve backward, and one cannot pull away.”
—Albion Fellows Bacon (1865–1933)