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David B. Martucci of Washington is a past president of the North American Vexillological Association and secretary/treasurer of the New England Vexillological Association.
Adopted March 21, 1901, Maine’s first official state flag was designed by Adj. Gen. John Richards. It combines the Native American pine tree that represented the region and its people since before European colonization and polaris, the north star representing the state’s motto, “Dirigo.” The field color, known as buff, along with the royal blue of the star, are the colors of the patriots of the American Revolution. Buff is representative of tanned deer hide, a sturdy material, and refers to standing firm for American independence.
On Feb. 23, 1909, the flag was changed to be blue, of the same color as the blue field in the flag of the United States. Under state statute, “the length or height of the staff to be 9 feet, including brass spearhead and ferrule; the fly of said flag to be 5 feet 6 inches, and to be 4 feet 4 inches on the staff; in the center of the flag there shall be embroidered in silk on both sides of the flag the coat of arms of the state, in proportionate size; the edges to be trimmed with knotted fringe of yellow silk, 2½ inches wide; a cord, with tassels, to be attached to the staff at the spearhead, to be 8 feet 6 inches long and composed of white and blue silk strands.”
There is no known example of the official flag of the state of Maine that conforms in every detail to the legal description, which is that of a military color. Similar flags were used early in the Civil War by Maine troops and for that reason this design was selected.
The Maine coat of arms was adopted by a resolve of the Legislature dated June 9, 1820. Included in the design within a circular border is a pine tree and moose on a plain white shield; two white men, a farmer and a sailor; a ribbon bearing the name of the state; and a star above the shield below which is a second ribbon bearing the word “DIRIGO.” This design differs in many respects from that depicted on our current flag.
The present flag is similar to more than 20 other U.S. state flags that place their arms or seal or other significant symbols on a blue field, generally a byproduct of federal needs during the Civil War. Our flag is easily confused with these other flags and, at a distance, cannot be readily distinguished from any of them.
Changing the present flag by readopting the good old pine and polaris flag would solve this problem, being different in both design and field color from any other U.S. state flag. It is a great design, and a great state deserves a great flag!
On Nov. 5, please vote Yes on Question 5.