Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. Give a donation in someone’s name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. For more information, contact 501-918-3025 or calsfoundation@cals.org.

Those who considered the old state seal of Minnesota to be racist welcomed the change. Specifically, in one part of the seal appears that a Native American is riding off on a horse. Some may interpret it as Native people being forced off their land (i.e., The Trail of Tears).

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May 12, 2023 — Why are flags lowered to half-staff, half-mast in Wisconsin? ... Gov. Tony Evers has ordered flags to fly at half-staff Friday in honor of St.

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This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award.

Shearer, Benjamin F., and Barbara Smith Shearer. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide. 3rd ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002.

The Arkansas state flag is today flown over thousands of governmental and private locations throughout the state. The Arkansas Code lists a handful of specifications concerning the flag, including occasions upon which it may be flown at half-staff and requiring that it be flown at every public school in the state, displayed on the same pole as the national flag. The Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office offers a booklet outlining protocol appropriate for display and use of the state flag. This protocol is not considered part of the Arkansas Code as such but incorporates elements of the U.S. Flag Code and reflects common usage throughout the states.

Changing flags to remove racial symbolism is not a new practice. Several states that were part of the former Confederate States of America have redesigned their flags to remove Confederate symbols. For example, Mississippi adopted a new flag in 2020, replacing its previous design that featured the Confederate battle emblem. South Carolina also eventually removed the Confederate flag from its State House grounds in 2015, a powerful gesture toward unity and progress.

In 1910, the keel was laid for the U.S. Navy’s newest battleship, the Wyoming-class USS Arkansas. Early in 1912, with the Arkansas’s scheduled commissioning just nine months away, the Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) resolved to present a “stand of colors” (a national flag, a naval battalion ensign, and a state flag) to the new ship. The chapter contacted Arkansas secretary of state Earle W. Hodges requesting information on obtaining the state’s flag. Hodges informed the chapter that in fact no state flag existed. The DAR chapter thereupon launched a statewide design contest to create one. Hodges agreed to chair a committee for selecting the winning design. Ultimately, some sixty-five designs—including crayon drawings, watercolor sketches, and even miniature silk flags—were submitted. Some design elements appeared on more than one entry. The apple blossom, Arkansas’s state flower, appeared in one entry centered on a field scattered with stars representing the United States, with thirteen rays recalling the original states. On another, the flower was repeated four times within colorful blocks. Another design combined the state’s outline with its great seal. One entrant memorialized territorial governor James Miller, a hero of the War of 1812, emblazoning “I’ll try, sir,” his famous battlefield utterance, upon a blue field. In early 1913, the committee met in Hodges’s office in the new Arkansas State Capitol. After due deliberation, the committee chose a red, white, and blue design submitted by Willie Kavanaugh Hocker of Wabbaseka (Jefferson County).

Despite the flag change, criticism is still rampant. Many lawmakers have stated that the flag change was a low-priority issue, citing that there were more pressing issues to worry about and making it a partisan issue. Others were quick to criticize the flag, stating it resembles the flag of Somalia. Others disliked the design, calling it "bland and corporate."

This guide will discuss Minnesota's new flag, compare it to the old one, and explain why lawmakers changed it. While MN recently changed its flag and seal design, its identity as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” will always stay the same. Let’s discuss what you need to know about this latest flag change

The committee decreed that the flag ought to bear the state’s name. Hocker assented and suggested that the three blue stars be rearranged, one above the name and two below. On February 26, 1913, the General Assembly adopted this design as the state’s official flag. The design remained unchanged until 1923, when the General Assembly added a fourth star to the central diamond to represent Arkansas’s membership in the Confederate States of America. At first, the stars were arranged with two above and two below the state’s name, but the Second Extraordinary Session in 1924 placed three stars below and one above, with the three lower stars arranged as an inverted triangle. A new element of symbolism was added: the twin stars immediately below the state’s name would suggest the “twin” relationship of Arkansas and Michigan, which were admitted to the Union within approximately seven months of each other, maintaining the balance between free and slave states in Congress. The Arkansas Code misstates this relationship by asserting that the states were admitted together on June 15, 1836; by the terms of an act of that date, both states were slated for admission, and Arkansas joined the Union on that date, but Michigan was delayed until January 26, 1837.

In 1983, the dark blue field was turned into a lighter shade, which has remained the current state flag until the changeover to the new one on May 11, 2024. Criticism of Minnesota’s flag is not new. One redesign was considered in 1957 that would have done away with the state seal, replacing it with a series of gold stars forming a larger star in the middle.

Hocker’s design featured a rectangular red field upon which was centered a white rhombus diamond bordered by twenty-five white stars on a blue band. Three blue stars, centered on the flag’s horizontal axis on a white field within the rhombus, completed the plan. The three blue stars in the center field bore several meanings: first, that Arkansas had successively belonged to three countries—France, Spain, and the United States—before statehood; second, that 1803 was the year of the Louisiana Purchase, which included present-day Arkansas; third, that Arkansas was the third state created from the purchase. The twenty-five white stars symbolized that Arkansas was the twenty-fifth state admitted to the Union. The diamond marked Arkansas’s status as the nation’s only diamond-producing state.

In February 2019, Representative Charles Blake produced a bill that would have changed the meaning of the star symbolizing the Confederacy, designating it to represent the various Native American tribes that have inhabited Arkansas. However, the bill failed to make it out of committee.

Shankle, George Earlie. State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols: A Study Based on Historical Documents Giving the Origin and Significance of the State Names, Nicknames, Mottoes, Seals, Flags, Flowers, Birds, Songs, and Descriptive Comments on the Capitol Buildings and on Some of the Leading State Histories, with Facsimiles of the State Flags and Seals. Rev. ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1970.

An official Arkansas state flag did not exist prior to 1913. During the Civil War, Arkansas soldiers fought under a variety of banners and flags, but none enjoyed the state’s official cachet. A military requirement, however, led to the creation of a civil flag for the state.

Ware, David. It’s Official! The Real Stories behind Arkansas’s State Symbols. 2nd ed. Little Rock: Butler Center Books, 2017.

2024425 — Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered the United States flag and the State of Florida flag to be flown at half-staff to honor Bill Gunter.

The first flag was introduced in 1893. While both sides featured the state seal, the obverse was white while the reverse was blue. In honor of the state’s centennial anniversary, the flag underwent a major change in 1957 to feature a dark blue field while the state seal remained the same.

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Regardless of how Minnesotans feel about their flag, replacing it statewide may pose logistical challenges. For some perspective, a Minnesota Department of Administration spokesperson told WCCO in December that they spent around $1,400 to replace state flags around the Minnesota State Capitol complex.

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The first official flag of North Carolina was adopted a month after the state seceded from the union in 1861. The design of the flag is credited to Raleigh ...

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For additional information: “Arkansas (U.S.).” Flags of the World. http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-ar.html (accessed August 26, 2023).

Aside from its criticism of apparent racism, many criticized the flag as being one of the least recognizable or memorable. In 2001, it was considered one of the ten worst flags in a poll conducted by the North American Vexillological Association.

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The following year, the State Emblems Redesigns Commission convened to choose a final design. On December 19, 2023, the commission selected the design made by 24-year-old Andrew Prekker to become the new Minnesota state flag. Despite criticism from various citizens and efforts from opposing lawmakers who wanted the public to vote on the issue, MN adopted the new flag on May 11, 2024, Minnesota statehood day.

The movement to change Minnesota’s flag began on March 22, 2022, when legislators Mike Freiberg and Peter Fischer introduced a bill to update the state flag and seal. This idea was initially brought to Fischer's attention five years earlier by a group of students. Lawmakers brought forth the change to “accurately and respectfully reflect the shared history, resources, and diverse cultures” of Minnesota.

Minnesota was admitted into the United States as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. It's state seal featured a pioneer plowing a field and a Native American on horseback, symbolizing agriculture and the state's indigenous heritage. A setting sun, a tree stump with an axe, and a wreath of pink and white lady's slippers, the state flower, are also included. The motto "L'Étoile du Nord" (The Star of the North) and the years 1819 and 1858 mark significant historical milestones.

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Efforts to change the state seal date back over half a century but repeatedly failed as it was considered a non-issue. However, long-term proponents of the flag and state seal changes can now take heart, as their cause has finally gained enough traction. After more than 50 years of attempts, change has finally come.

The most popular and standard 3x5 foot Flag is lightweight Knitted Polyester that make flag flying high to its attractive appearance.

Those interested in purchasing Minnesota’s new flag can shop our MN flag collection to find the style that best suits their display. Historic MN styles are available while supplies last.

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The new flag of Minnesota is officially available for sale on AmericanFlags.com. Purchase in premium nylon or rugged tough-ply poly for display near your home and business. These flags are perfect for outdoor use and come finished with a strong canvas header and heavy-duty brass grommets.

Jan 23, 2023 — Flags should be flown at half-staff at the Indiana Statehouse until sunset on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and ...

Some of America’s states have changed their official flag design in recent years. Mostly recently, May 11, 2024, the state of Minnesota retired the flag that has symbolized its identity since 1983 (its most recent rendition since it has changed two separate times from its 1893 original design).

With May 11th already past, there's no need to wait. Order now and proudly fly the new Minnesota flag. Check out AmericanFlags.com and grab a piece of history today.

Due to the expense, not every place in Minnesota will immediately change its flags. However, it is only a matter of time before the new flag is widely displayed outside homes, businesses, and state agency offices.

Despite the changes to the flag, Minnesota’s identity as a state known for its natural beauty and diverse population will remain. The state also boasts a rich political heritage, being home to many well-known figures, including former vice presidents Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale.

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April 7th is the day of Slovenian flag, it is a day, when in year 1848 Slovenian patriotic student Lovro Toman with adherents hanged Slovenian tricolor in ...

Later that year, the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press held an unofficial contest to redesign the MN flag. The “North Star Flag,” which had been proposed as a new design more than a decade earlier, won the contest.