Flag of Massachusetts

U.S. state flag

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Use| Civil and state flag
Proportion| 3:5
Adopted| March 18, 1908; 117 years ago (1908-03-18) (initial version) 1971; 54 years ago (1971) (current design)
Design| A state coat of arms on a white field.
Flag of the governor of Massachusetts
Design| State flag in the form of a pennant.
Massachusetts ensign
Use| Naval ensign
Adopted| 1971; 54 years ago (1971)
Design| A green tree on a white field.

The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was adopted on March 18, 1908 and has only been changed once in 1971 with the removal of the reverse side. The flag features the state seal on a white field. The state currently has three official flags: a state flag, a governor's flag, and a "naval and maritime flag" (despite it no longer having its own naval militia).

With Florida, it is one of only two state flags to prominently feature a Native American in its heraldry. In 2001, a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) placed Massachusetts's state flag 38th in design quality out of 72 flags (U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial).[1]

## History

[edit]

See also: Seal of Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been represented by official but limited-purpose flags since 1676, though until 1908 it had no state flag to represent its government. A variant of the white flag with blue seal was carried by each of the Massachusetts volunteer regiments during the American Civil War alongside the National Colors. An exception were the two "Irish regiments" (the 9th and 28th Volunteers), each of which was permitted to carry an alternative green flag with a harp symbol.[2]

In 1896 delegates from the state traveled to Indianapolis to show support to presidential candidate Grover Cleveland. They carried with them a "...state banner..."[3] It is unknown when it was made and what the design was.

Upon adoption on March 18, 1908, the state flag had a reverse side that featured a green pine on a blue shield. In 1971, the reverse side was removed.[2]

* The reverse side of the flag from 1908 to 1971.

## Design and symbolism

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The Massachusetts state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.

The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts displays, on both sides, the state coat of arms on a white field. The shield is meant to depict an Algonquian Native American with bow and arrow; the arrow is pointed downward, signifying peace. However, the face of the figure is modelled on a photo of Ojibwe chief Thomas Little Shell.[4] A white star with five points appears next to the figure's head, signifying Massachusetts as a U.S. state. A blue ribbon surrounds the shield, bearing the state motto Ense Petit Placidam, Sub Libertate Quietem ("By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty").[5]

Above the shield is the state military crest: the bent arm holding a broadsword aloft. The sword has its blade up, to remind that it was through the American Revolution that liberty was won. The sword itself is a copy of one belonging to Myles Standish[6] and signifies the philosophy that one would rather lose their right arm than live under tyranny.[citation needed][7]

## Attempts to change the flag

[edit]

A flag that was incorrectly displayed as the Massachusetts state flag on a fake "Refugee Benefits" brochure distributed to the Martha's Vineyard migrants in 2022. It had originally been designed by Will Bodine in 2020, as a proposed flag for Massachusetts. The flower on the shield is a mayflower, the official state flower, while the six stars represent Massachusetts' status as the sixth state to join the Union.[8][9]

On January 11, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill establishing a commission to change the state flag and seal by October 1, 2021 that will "faithfully reflect and embody the historic and contemporary commitments of the Commonwealth to peace, justice, liberty and equality and to spreading the opportunities and advantages of education."[10] The bill was previously approved by the Massachusetts Senate on July 28, 2020.[11] The Special Commission on Massachusetts Flag and Seal (Special Commission to Investigate the Features of the Official Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth) first met in July 2021.[12] In April 2022 the Commission voted to ask the state legislature to extend the deadline for completion of the Commission's work to March 31, 2023[13] In May 2022, the Commission recommended changing the seal, motto, and flag,[14] however the Commission failed to agree upon a proposal. With lawmakers not having extended the deadline past December 31, 2022, and the Commission's own deadline having expired at the end of March 2023, as well as UMass Amherst polling showing lukewarm support for a change, the issue appeared to be closed for the time.[15] In 2023, the commission concluded without recommending specific replacements for either flag or seal, though the commission's co-chair Brian Boyles stated that he and his colleagues had made significant progress on the issue.[16]

On July 29, 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed off on a budget amendment to change the state flag and seal.[17]

## Flags associated with Massachusetts

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* The English Red Ensign, the first flag flown by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In use from 1620–1708.

* A variant red ensign commonly used in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Saint George's Cross was removed for religious reasons. In use primarily from 1634–1686.[18]

* The personal standard of Edmund Andros, used as flag of the Dominion of New England. Flown over Boston from 1686–1689 until the Boston Revolt.

* A flag (and ensign) of New England, used by merchant ships sailing out of New England ports. In use 1686–1775.[18][19]

* Flown by the Province of Massachusetts Bay after the 1707 Acts of Union. The Flag of Great Britain replaces the English flag in the canton. In use 1708–1775.

* Variant of the New England variant of the red ensign, redesigned to incorporate the Union Flag. In use 1708–1775.

* Flag of New England with the British symbols removed from the canton.[20] In use as a flag of New England 1775–present.

## Naval and maritime flag

[edit]

In April 1776, the Massachusetts State Navy adopted, as its flag (naval ensign), a white field charged with a green pine tree and the motto "An Appeal to Heaven." In 1971 the motto was removed, and the flag was designated "the naval and maritime flag of the Commonwealth".[21]

Massachusetts is one of only three states with its own maritime ensign. The second is Maine, which was part of Massachusetts until 1820. Third and last is South Carolina, which activated her navy twice: first during the American Revolutionary War and again during the American Civil War.

* The current ensign from 1971 onwards

* The Massachusetts naval ensign from 1776 to 1971

## See also

[edit]

* United States portal

* Symbols of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
* Flags of governors of the U.S. states
* Flag of New England
* Pine Tree Flag

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org" (PDF). nava.org.
2. ^ a b Smith, Whitney. "flag of Massachusetts". Retrieved April 22, 2025.
3. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1896-09-03). "The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, September 03, 1896, Image 1". ISSN 2640-5210. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
4. ^ "History". 26 November 2018.
5. ^ CIS: Latin Translation
6. ^ Seal of the Commonwealth
7. ^ CIS: State Symbols,
8. ^ Spencer Buell (21 September 2022). "How did an image of a fake Massachusetts flag end up in a brochure for Martha's Vineyard migrants?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
9. ^ "'Baffles me': Man's redesigned Massachusetts state flag put on pamphlets given to migrants". WCVB. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
10. ^ Governor Baker Signs the Bill Establishing a Special Commission to Change the Mass Flag and Seal
11. ^ "Mass. Senate OK's bill reviewing controversial state seal, flag". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
12. ^ "After Six Month Delay, Special Commission on Massachusetts Flag and Seal to Meet Monday, July 19th". Change the Mass Flag. 2021-07-17. Archived from the original on Dec 2, 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
13. ^ Reilly, Adam (19 April 2022). "Commission to review Mass. state seal and motto struggling to get the job done". WGBH. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
14. ^ "Panel recommends replacing Massachusetts seal, motto". Associated Press. 14 May 2022.
15. ^ "For Massachusetts, no news of a new state seal or motto". News. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
16. ^ "Commission to rethink state seal and motto concludes with no specific proposal for either". 14 November 2023.
17. ^ Detmold, David (2024-07-30). "Governor Signs Flag and Seal Amendment". Change the Mass Flag. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
18. ^ a b David B. Martucci. "The New England Flag". D. Martucci. Archived from the original on April 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
19. ^ Historical Flags of Our Ancestors. "Flags of the Early North American Colonies and Explorers". Loeser.is. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
20. ^ "New England flags (U.S.)". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
21. ^ M.G.L. - Chapter 2, Section 3

## External links

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* Massachusetts (U.S.) at Flags of the World
* Massachusetts Naval Ensign (U.S.) at Flags of the World

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