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State Flag

1/21/2011:

One hundred years ago on this date, Colonel John H. Fraine introduced a resolution to the North Dakota Legislative Assembly proposing the creation and adoption of a North Dakota state flag, modeled on the flag carried by the North Dakota Infantry in the Spanish American War. The legislature approved the measure on March 3rd.

Forty years later, the state flag’s design faced severe criticism “…because it too closely resembled the Coat of Arms of the United States.” This resemblance is not surprising, given the flag’s origins. During the Civil War and Spanish American War, each military regiment adopted a flag to distinguish itself from other regiments. Like the North Dakota Infantry, most of these regiments were state-organized. In choosing regimental colors, troops either adopted a standard pattern or created their own local design, which was often simply a stylized version of the standard – an American eagle with a halo of stars on a blue background. It was issued to all infantry regiments mustered into federal service during the Civil War. Regiments continued to use these standards during the Spanish American War, and most were distinguished only by the addition of a regiment name.

In the early 1900s, still feeling victorious and proud of their state’s service in the latter half of the 19th century, many of the adopted state flags incorporated several of these elements. North Dakota’s flag, featuring the eagle on blue background, a halo of stars, and gold fringe, was an exact replica of the federally-issued standard, with the single addition of a red scroll beneath the eagle emblazoned with the state’s name. However, in 1951 and again in 1953, when the issue arose, proposed changes to the flag were defeated, and the state flag used today is the same that was first proposed a century ago.

During the 1950s, the North Dakota National Guard adopted a ‘Governor’s Flag’ employing the state coat of arms to represent the state, and particularly the governor’s office. This flag, featuring a golden arrowhead on a field of green, was thought to better represent the state as a unique entity.

Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job

Sources:

http://www.fotw.us/flags/us-nd.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/regiment-spanam- http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/nd_flag.htm