State Flag of Kentucky – The Bluegrass State
Posted:
December 10, 2017
Categories:
State Flag Information
Each state in the United States of America has many symbols that were adopted as the state established itself and the residents gained pride in their home. Every resident may not be familiar with their state’s flower or the state bird, but the state flag inspires a kind of pride that inhabits long-time residents and recent transplants. Kentucky is no exception, with a proud banner that flies over thousands of homes and buildings across the Bluegrass State.
History
The state of Kentucky is not a state at all, but one of our nation’s four commonwealths. There is not much distinction between the two terms, as that Kentucky functions much the same as any other state in the country. The term “commonwealth” is indicative of the spirit in which the territory gained statehood. It is an older English word that referred to a political community founded for the common good. When the Commonwealth was founded in 1792, so strong was the spirit of unity the state flew the 15-star flag of the United States as both its state and national flag. The American flag remained the unofficial state flag until the Civil War, when Kentucky seceded to become a part of the Confederacy. After the war, the American flag returned as the prominent flag in the commonwealth. The Kentucky General Assembly officially adopted the current state flag in 1918. It was designed and drawn by a prominent art teacher in the state’s capital city of Frankfurt, Jesse Cox Burgess. The design was further solidified when an official drawing was included in the state’s statutes in 1928. However, the state seal continued to evolve on the flag until it was standardized later, in 1962.Design and Symbolism
The design of Kentucky’s flag is minimalistic. Like many other state flags, it bears the state seal on a field of navy blue. States commonly adopt the navy field, and the blue color symbolizes virtues such as vigilance and justice. The state seal on the flag is surrounded by the words “Commonwealth of Kentucky” in gold above, and sits in stems of goldenrod, the state flower, below. The state seal is the main adornment on Kentucky’s flag. It showcases a pioneer and a statesman shaking hands. State legend has it that the pioneer, dressed in traditional buckskins, is supposed to represent Daniel Boone, who is responsible for the exploration of Kentucky. Legend also says that the statesmen represent the most famous statesman from Kentucky, Henry Clay, who later became Secretary of State for President John Quincy Adams. Official state documentation says the two figures represent all pioneers and all statesmen who came together to create the new commonwealth. The seal also bears the motto of the commonwealth, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” This motto encircles the two figures shaking hands. It is derived from a popular song from the American Revolution, called the Liberty Song.