Flag of Vermont
Encyclopedia
The flag
of the state of Vermont consists of the state's coat of arms
and motto
. The Vermont General Assembly
adopted the current flag
on June 1, 1923.
Multiple versions of the flag have been included throughout history. Originally, the flag was the same as the flag of the Green Mountain Boys
. It was then changed to look similar to the flag of the United States
, consisting of red and white stripes, and a blue canton. It was changed to be dissimilar to avoid confusion. Proposals have been brought up to revert the flag back to the Green Mountain Boys' flag, but none have succeeded.
and motto
on a field of azure
. While the pine needle supporters
of the coat of arms are represented throughout New England
, the pine tree in the middle of the coat of arms
represents the Vermont forests. The cow and three sheaves of wheat
represent the dairy
and agriculture
industries. The deer
head on top represents Vermont's wildlife
. The Green Mountains
are in the background as well. The motto
, "Freedom and Unity
", is also used. The motto balances two different ideals, the freedom of the individual citizen, and the welfare of the common good
.
There is no record today of a design for an official Vermont Flag prior to 1804, although Ira Allen
's design—common to both the Great Seal of Vermont and the Coat of arms of Vermont
—dates to 1778. While an official government flag might not have existed prior to 1804, the Vermont militia—known as the Green Mountain Boys
—was formed in 1770, and remaining accounts record use of the Flag of the Green Mountain Boys
as far back as 1777.
On May 1, 1804, the number of U.S. states rose to seventeen, and it was expected that the U.S. flag would change to 17 stars and 17 stripes. In recognition, Vermont adopted what was expected to be the new U.S. flag with the addition of the name "VERMONT" embroidered along the top. The U.S. flag did not change in that way, resulting in the Vermont flag having more stripes than the national flag.
On October 20, 1837, Vermont changed its flag to a design based on the current 13-stripe U.S. flag, but with the multiple stars of the blue canton replaced with a single large star surrounding Vermont’s coat of arms. The flags based on these specifications varied in the number of points on the star (five and eight, with eight slightly more common), and the exact details of the center of the star (with either the Great Seal or the coat of arms
being used).
During the American Civil War, the Vermont militia fought under a banner composed of the Coat of arms of Vermont
on a white field, and later a blue field. The latter being essentially the same as the Vermont Governor’s flag, and hence the current state flag.
Because of confusion between the striped Vermont state flag and the U.S. flag, the design of the Vermont Governor’s flag was adopted as the official state flag on June 1, 1923.
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association
surveyed its members on the designs of the flags of all 72 flags of the U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canadian provinces. Vermont's ranked 61st out of the 72.
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
of the state of Vermont consists of the state's coat of arms
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
and motto
Freedom and Unity
"Freedom and Unity" is the official motto of the U.S. state of Vermont. The motto was first adopted in 1788 for use on the Great Seal of the Vermont Republic. Ira Allen designed the Vermont seal and is often credited as its author...
. The Vermont General Assembly
Vermont General Assembly
The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
adopted the current flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
on June 1, 1923.
Multiple versions of the flag have been included throughout history. Originally, the flag was the same as the flag of the Green Mountain Boys
Flag of the Green Mountain Boys
The flag of the Green Mountain Boys began as a regimental flag used by the Green Mountain Boys. A remnant of a Green Mountain Boys flag, believed to belong to John Stark, is owned by the Bennington Museum. It still exists as one of the few regimental flags from the American Revolution...
. It was then changed to look similar to the flag of the United States
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
, consisting of red and white stripes, and a blue canton. It was changed to be dissimilar to avoid confusion. Proposals have been brought up to revert the flag back to the Green Mountain Boys' flag, but none have succeeded.
Symbolism
The flag consists of the state's coat of armsCoat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
and motto
Freedom and Unity
"Freedom and Unity" is the official motto of the U.S. state of Vermont. The motto was first adopted in 1788 for use on the Great Seal of the Vermont Republic. Ira Allen designed the Vermont seal and is often credited as its author...
on a field of azure
Azure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
. While the pine needle supporters
Supporters
In heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or inanimate objects...
of the coat of arms are represented throughout New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, the pine tree in the middle of the coat of arms
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
represents the Vermont forests. The cow and three sheaves of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
represent the dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
industries. The deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
head on top represents Vermont's wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
. The Green Mountains
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
are in the background as well. The motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
, "Freedom and Unity
Freedom and Unity
"Freedom and Unity" is the official motto of the U.S. state of Vermont. The motto was first adopted in 1788 for use on the Great Seal of the Vermont Republic. Ira Allen designed the Vermont seal and is often credited as its author...
", is also used. The motto balances two different ideals, the freedom of the individual citizen, and the welfare of the common good
Common good
The common good is a term that can refer to several different concepts. In the popular meaning, the common good describes a specific "good" that is shared and beneficial for all members of a given community...
.
History
| Historic Vermont Flags |
|---|
 Green Mountain Boys Flag Flag of the Green Mountain Boys The flag of the Green Mountain Boys began as a regimental flag used by the Green Mountain Boys. A remnant of a Green Mountain Boys flag, believed to belong to John Stark, is owned by the Bennington Museum. It still exists as one of the few regimental flags from the American Revolution... , the militia flag of the Vermont Republic Vermont Republic The term Vermont Republic has been used by later historians for the government of what became modern Vermont from 1777 to 1791. In July 1777 delegates from 28 towns met and declared independence from jurisdictions and land claims of British colonies in New Hampshire and New York. They also... |
 May 1, 1804 – Oct. 19, 1837 |
 Oct. 20, 1837 – May 31, 1923 |
There is no record today of a design for an official Vermont Flag prior to 1804, although Ira Allen
Ira Allen
Ira Allen was one of the founders of Vermont, and leaders of the Green Mountain Boys; and was the brother of Ethan Allen.-Biography:...
's design—common to both the Great Seal of Vermont and the Coat of arms of Vermont
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
—dates to 1778. While an official government flag might not have existed prior to 1804, the Vermont militia—known as the Green Mountain Boys
Green Mountain Boys
The Green Mountain Boys were a militia organization first established in the 1760s in the territory between the British provinces of New York and New Hampshire, known as the New Hampshire Grants...
—was formed in 1770, and remaining accounts record use of the Flag of the Green Mountain Boys
Flag of the Green Mountain Boys
The flag of the Green Mountain Boys began as a regimental flag used by the Green Mountain Boys. A remnant of a Green Mountain Boys flag, believed to belong to John Stark, is owned by the Bennington Museum. It still exists as one of the few regimental flags from the American Revolution...
as far back as 1777.
On May 1, 1804, the number of U.S. states rose to seventeen, and it was expected that the U.S. flag would change to 17 stars and 17 stripes. In recognition, Vermont adopted what was expected to be the new U.S. flag with the addition of the name "VERMONT" embroidered along the top. The U.S. flag did not change in that way, resulting in the Vermont flag having more stripes than the national flag.
On October 20, 1837, Vermont changed its flag to a design based on the current 13-stripe U.S. flag, but with the multiple stars of the blue canton replaced with a single large star surrounding Vermont’s coat of arms. The flags based on these specifications varied in the number of points on the star (five and eight, with eight slightly more common), and the exact details of the center of the star (with either the Great Seal or the coat of arms
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
being used).
During the American Civil War, the Vermont militia fought under a banner composed of the Coat of arms of Vermont
Coat of arms of Vermont
The coat of arms of Vermont is the official armorial bearings of the U.S. state of Vermont. Most of the elements found in the coat of arms originate in the Great Seal of Vermont designed by Ira Allen...
on a white field, and later a blue field. The latter being essentially the same as the Vermont Governor’s flag, and hence the current state flag.
Because of confusion between the striped Vermont state flag and the U.S. flag, the design of the Vermont Governor’s flag was adopted as the official state flag on June 1, 1923.
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association
North American Vexillological Association
The North American Vexillological Association is a membership organization devoted to "vexillology as the scientific study of flags." Flag researchers, designers, collectors, activists, merchants, and other enthusiasts from the United States and Canada meet annually at NAVA meetings in order to...
surveyed its members on the designs of the flags of all 72 flags of the U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canadian provinces. Vermont's ranked 61st out of the 72.
See also
- State of Vermont
- Symbols of the state of Vermont
- Great Seal of the State of Vermont
- Symbols of the state of Vermont
- Flags of the United StatesFlags of the United States-Historical progression of designs:Since 1818, a star for each new state has been added to the flag on the Fourth of July immediately following each state's admission...