History Of Virginia Flag

By Ron Ronalds


The Virginia Flag was officially adopted on 30th April 1861. It is gathered from the Virginia Flag history that the state seal emblazoned on the state flag of Virginia was adopted in the year 1776.

Virginia features as the10th state to become an official member of the Union in 1788. Another significant historical fact about the state is that it enjoys the privilege of being one of the 13 original colonies of the Union.

In 1776 the jurist George Wythe probably drew upon a book on Roman antiquities by Joseph Spence when he created the first Virginia state seal. It was made in two sizes and had distinctive designs on the obverse and reverse sides. The reverse showed women symbolizing liberty, eternity, and agriculture.

The design on the obverse now appears on the state flag. It features a woman personifying virtue and dressed as an Amazon. She wears a helmet and holds a spear and sword above the Latin motto “Sic semper tyrannis” (“Thus always to tyrants”). She is standing on the prostrate figure of a fallen king, his crown lying to one side, thus carrying out the theme of popular victory over the tyrannical government. The whip and chain held by the king have been rendered useless.

In a vote adopting "An Ordinance to repeal the ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America, by the State of Virginia, and to resume all the rights and powers granted under said Constitution," Virginia declared its sovereignty and opened the way for the Commonwealth to join the Confederate States of America.

There is a barrage of cheap and inferior Virginia flags being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported flags are cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods of printing do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flags made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Virginia flag for the future.




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