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The state asked the public for new flag ideas. The public didn’t disappoint.
With over 1,000 submissions, the public utilized seemingly every Massachusetts cultural staple in its proposed flags, seals and mottos.
From a tri-color flag of Dunkin’s magenta, orange, and white, to the Patriots’ 3-to-28 scoreboard, the Massachusetts public had no shortage of suggestions for what should be on a new state flag.
The Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Commission ran its open call for submissions for the new state flag, seal, and motto from May 8 to June 18.
“Our seal, flag, and motto should reflect not just our history, but the vibrant, diverse community we are today — and the future we are building together,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler in the open call’s May announcement.
The state recommended that the submissions highlight natural elements associated with Massachusetts: for instance, cranberries, the right whale, pine trees, the coastline, or the geographic shape of the state.
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The state received over 1,000 submissions, many of which omitted the natural elements and some of which appear possibly to have been sketched by children (or, to put it politely, people who are not accomplished artists).
“The Advisory Commission has been impressed with both the volume and the quality of submissions received,” said Abigail Phillips, director of communications at the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
The commission narrowed the selection down to 48 flags, 23 seals, and 32 mottos, utilizing a scoring rubric and a “traffic light” method to determine which designs would advance, according to Phillips.
The Advisory Commission members will further narrow the selections down to three for each category during its meeting on Thursday, said Phillips.
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The final three options will be aired at public meetings across the state where residents can provide feedback and “help inform the Commission’s final recommendations,” Phillips said.
The commission must make its final recommendation to the state by Dec. 15, said Phillips.
You can download the Round 2 selections here, and all of the original submissions here.
Some submissions that didn’t make it to the next round:
Some mottos that didn’t make it to Round 2:
- “In Cod We Trust.”
- “Manu haec inimical tyrannis,” which is Latin for “this land is hostile to tyrants.”
- “The Gateway to New Hampshire.”
- “God damn it, Massachusetts, #1 again?!?!”
- “Where Republicans go to become Democrats”
- “Witch-free since 1693”
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