Everything You Need to Know About the Flag of Kentucky
The Kentucky state flag is a symbol of unity for all Kentuckians and represents the many facets of our diverse state. As such, it should always be flown proudly and with respect. Whether you’re flying it at your home, business or school, displaying it in your office or classroom, or just wearing it on a tshirt, show your Bluegrass pride with the flag of Kentucky. We’re all united under this banner!
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Flag Of Kentucky History
Kentucky’s got a long history of flags, y’all. But before we got an official state flag in 1918, we flew banners from all kinds of affiliations and countries over our bluegrass. Back in the 1600s, some Spanish folks were camping out in Kentucky on their way up North to New York. But, dang it, they all got burned or tomahawked before they could get there.
Then, in the early 1700s, French explorers LaSalle, Marquette, and Iberville showed up with the French monarchy’s fancy fleur-de-lis and planted it in southwest Kentucky. But soon enough, that land was snagged by Great Britain in the French and Indian War. The Brits added it to their holdings with the Proclamation of 1763, and then the Quebec Act of 1774.
Once upon a time, the “Union Jack” of Great Britain fluttered over the Commonwealth. But when Kentucky declared its independence, things got wild. First, it briefly sported Virginia’s flag. But as tensions rose and forts popped up in Harrodsburg, Lexington, and Louisville, the United States flag took over. All it took was thirteen stars and stripes, and the rest of the state followed suit.
After the war, Kentucky flirted again with Virginia’s flag. But in 1792, when it officially became a state, it embraced the flag of fifteen stars and fifteen stripes as a symbol of its new status. As the U.S. continued to add states and modify its own flag, Kentucky stuck with the national flag as its unofficial emblem. And that’s how the Bluegrass State got its patriotic flair.
Y’all know that during the Civil War, Kentucky had a real identity crisis – Confederate and Union flags were flying side by side! Although they never officially left the Union, Kentucky seemed mighty cozy with the Confederacy for a while. The infamous General John Hunt Morgan led Confederate raids from 1861 to 1863, basically taking over the southern and central parts of the state. But, don’t be fooled – Federal troops captured him and his posse near Lisbon, Ohio in 1863. Morgan got away, but was later killed in Tennessee in 1864. It’s like one big game of capture the flag!
Back in the day, when the Confederacy lost its grip on Northern Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, the Union flag rose back to power. For years after the Civil War, Kentucky sported the Union flag as its unofficial state flag. But it wasn’t until 1918 that the state officially adopted a flag that featured its seal surrounded by goldenrod. Yet even then, it took a whole decade for the “powers that be” to settle on the final design. Can you believe it? It wasn’t until 1928 that the General Assembly gave the flag a thumbs-up and even put a pic of it in the statutes. Better late than never, right?
Y’all might not know this, but Kentucky’s flag is special – it’s gotta be made of navy blue silk or bunting with the Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the middle, surrounded by a wreath of goldenrod. As for the size, they didn’t really specify.
Fun fact: the first state flag was whipped up super quick in 1920 for a ceremony at Camp Zachary Taylor. It wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, if you catch our drift. So, they sent it to a guy named Credo Harris for some “creative improvements.” A committee picked three designs, which were combined into one for the Governor’s approval. But, the design got lost in the shuffle and nothing ever happened. So, the 1920 flag ended up sitting with the Kentucky Historical Society for a long time. Bet that fancy flag fact blew yer mind, huh?
When Kentucky needed a new flag for a military ceremony, Governor Flem D. Sampson turned to Jouett Cannon, secretary of the Kentucky Historical Society. Cannon reached out to Jessie Cox Burgess, an art teacher in Frankfort, to create a new design. Burgess delivered a stunning design featuring the state’s seal with goldenrod branches in oil paint. The flag was made in Philadelphia, but only two out of the three made it back to Frankfort – one was lost during a ceremony in Chicago. Burgess’ design remains a cornerstone of Kentucky pride.
Did you know that it took until 1961 for Kentucky to officially approve its state flag design? Major Taylor L. Davidson, who was serving as Adjutant General, took charge of the project, diving deep into the state’s history and early flag designs. With the help of artist Harold Collins, three colorful designs were created and presented to Governor Bert Combs, who eventually chose the winning design. Davidson then turned the design into a template and produced a bill (KRS 2.030) with detailed specifications. This bill was so special it was the first to include illustrations in the Kentucky statute and passed into law in 1962. It’s wild to think that such a beloved symbol of our state had such a recent inception!
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Kentucky Flag Symbolism & Design
The imagery on the flag of Kentucky is symbolic and meaningful. The Kentucky State Flag has a navy blue background with the Commonwealth’s seal in the middle. Above it, it says “Commonwealth of Kentucky”, and below it, there’re sprigs of goldenrod, the state flower.
Now, some folks say that the pioneer and statesman hugging in the seal are Daniel Boone, who explored Kentucky, and Henry Clay, who was a famous Kentucky statesman. But, officially, the guys represent all frontiersmen and statesmen, not any particular figures.
Nonetheless, the two men shaking hands represent harmony and unity among all Kentuckians. The farmer in the center symbolizes the hard work and dedication that make Kentucky a great place to live. The statesman stands for the state’s commitment to democracy and justice. Finally, the sun in the background represents optimism and a bright future for all of us here in Kentucky. Together, these symbols create a powerful representation of our state’s values and identity.
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Kentucky Flag Pledge
In 2000, the General Assembly declared a brand new pledge of allegiance to the Kentucky flag. It goes like this: “I pledge allegiance to the Kentucky flag, and to the Sovereign State for which it stands, one Commonwealth, blessed with diversity, natural wealth, beauty, and grace from on High.” Y’all got it now!
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The flag of Kentucky is more than just a symbol of unity; it’s a reminder to all of us that we are stronger together than apart. Show your Kentucky pride today by displaying the flag and wearing it proudly! Let’s all come together under this banner for a brighter, better future.
Long live the flag of Kentucky!
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