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Mass. is seeking submissions for a new state seal, again
A group of officials disbanded before recommending a final design in 2023. A new commission is working to nail down more concrete options for an updated state seal, motto, and flag.
Officials are once again exploring options for a new Massachusetts state seal, flag and motto.
Last week, a state commission issued an open call for members of the public to submit their proposals. Submissions are due by June 18. The idea is to narrow down these submissions to create a list of three options that would then be the subject of a series of public hearings. The commission hopes to submit a final recommendation to Gov. Maura Healey by July 29.
“We all know that we have a really unique and important opportunity before us. The symbols we choose will not only represent history, but also our values and aspirations as a Commonwealth,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, co-chair of the new commission, said during a recent meeting.
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The call for submissions marks a revival of efforts to rework the seal, motto, and flag. An earlier commission was created by state lawmakers in 2021, and unanimously voted to recommend that the state seal and motto be replaced. But it missed a late 2022 deadline and, by the end of 2023, produced only a lengthy report that did not contain any concrete proposals. It recommended that Secretary of State Bill Galvin oversee further efforts to produce new designs, and disbanded.
Last year, lawmakers passed another measure to establish a new commission. This is the body overseeing the recent call for submissions.
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Elizabeth Solomon, a member of both commissions, acknowledged that strong opinions about the state seal and motto are widespread and expressed hope that public sentiment will lead the commission’s work.
“This is a once in a lifetime, once in multiple lifetimes, opportunity to represent the state,” she said.
The current state flag features the state seal and motto. Therefore, any changes to the seal and motto would likely also result in a new flag. The seal depicts an indigenous man underneath a disembodied arm that holds a sword. The Latin phrase “ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem,” meaning “by the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty,” wraps around the images. The current design was finalized in 1898, but similar variations date back to the early 17th Century.
It has long been criticized as offensive to Native Americans. But, the majority of Native American respondents to a survey conducted by the previous commission indicated a preference for keeping an indigenous person on the seal in some capacity.
“The Commission acknowledges an important choice for any new seal: How to retain representation of Native people in the seal and motto if the current figure is removed from the current seal?” officials wrote in their report.
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Survey respondents expressed the most support for ideas that incorporated images of right whales, the Massachusetts shoreline, and cranberries. Other local flora and fauna, like chickadees, cods, turkeys, and elm trees were floated as well. Survey respondents favored words like “peace,” “equality,” “justice,” and “liberty” to be included in a new motto.
The level of demand for drastic change to the seal and motto remains to be seen. Already on social media, hundreds of users are expressing support for keeping the motto unchanged.
The state Legislature and Healey would eventually have to approve of any final changes. A new seal and motto would likely be unaltered for generations to come, making today’s deliberations all the more important.
“We need to take a look at what we’re changing it to so that the next generation can also be proud of this,” Rhonda Anderson, a member of the current commission said.
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