Saturday, July 16, 2016

Oklahoma State Flag History

By Arthur Smart


The land that today makes up Oklahoma was added to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Throughout the 19th century, the U.S. government relocated Indian tribes from the southeastern United States to the area, and by 1900, over 30 Indian tribes had been moved to what was originally called the Indian Territories.

The central emblem was modeled on an original Osage Nation warrior's shield of thick buffalo hide. The shield color is amber-a light tan color and outlined in red. The shield is set into a field of rich sky blue, representing the blue field in the flag flown by C.S.A. soldiers from the Choctaw Nation, and carried during their time in the American Civil war.

The flag had to be one that could portray the cultural diversity of the state. The winner whose design got chosen was Mrs. Louise Funk Fluke, an artist based in Oklahoma City. The flag has a sky blue field with a depiction of an Osage warrior's shield in the center. The shield is built of buffalo skin and patterned with 7 eagle feathers. Other symbols on the shield are 6 crosses, an olive branch, and a peace pipe.

The origin of the sky blue color can be traced back to the flag used by the Choctaw soldiers at the time of the Civil War. This color stands for the great virtues of loyalty and fidelity towards the state and its people. The peace pipe or the calumet is a Native American symbol for peace while the olive branch stands for the same implication, but is a European symbol.

The Flag has its special meaning. The blue field signifies loyalty and devotion; the shield implies defensive or protective warfare when justifiable; the small crosses on the shield are the Indians' graphic sign for stars and may indicate lofty ideals or a purpose for high endeavor; the shield thus surmounted by, but always subservient to, the calumet and the olive branch, betoken a predominant love of peace by a united people.

There is a barrage of cheap and inferior Oklahoma 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 inferior to American-made Oklahoma flags, but 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 Oklahoma flag for the future.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Gimme your 2 cents!

Banner Ad