Iowa State Flag

By Alisia Ronson


Iowa was admitted to the union as the 29th state on Dec. 28, 1846. As a Midwestern state, Iowa forms a bridge between the forests of the east and the grasslands of the high prairie plains to the west. Its gently rolling landscape rises slowly as it extends westward from the Mississippi River, which forms its entire eastern border.

For the next 300 years, thousands of white settlers would agree with these early visitors: Iowa was indeed lush and green; moreover, its soil was highly productive. In fact, much of the history of the Hawkeye State is inseparably intertwined with its agricultural productivity. Iowa stands today as one of the leading agricultural states in the nation, a fact foreshadowed by the observation of the early French explorers.

Iowa did not have a state flag after becoming a member of the Union in1846. When the US participated in the World War I, in 1917, Iowa still did not possess a flag. The Iowa National Guardsmen noticed that other state units carried special banners that gave them individual identities. They too felt the need of an appropriate flag to represent themselves. The Governor William L. Harding mulled over this proposal and agreed.

Iowa did not have a state banner till 1846. At the point when the US took an interest in the World War I, in 1917, Iowa still did not have a banner. The Iowa National Guardsmen saw that other state units conveyed exceptional flags that gave them singular characters. They too felt the need of a proper banner to speak of themselves. The Governor William L. Harding considered this proposition. The Daughters of theAmerican Revolution or D.A.R of Iowa set up a banner board of trustees and organized a pennant outlining rivalry in 1917. The best has Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt who created the aptest pennant. This turned into the Iowa Regimental Flag, which was later received as the state banner on March 29, 1921, by the General Assembly of Iowa.

The Iowa Flag is composed of three vertical stripes of blue, white and red, arranged from left to right. The central white stripe bears the image of a bald eagle, with a blue ribbon dangling from its beak. The ribbon reads "Our Liberties We Prize, And Our Rights We Will Maintain", the state motto of Iowa. The state name is etched in bold red letters, below the motto. The symbolism of Iowa Flag lies in the flag's very pattern. The colors and the image truly depict the ideals of the state.

There is a barrage of cheap and inferior Iowa 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 Iowa flag for the future.




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