State Flags of the U.S.

[Shellhead]

So, I'm processing our semi-monthly check run at work, and now slapping stamps on envelopes. I just started a new roll of 50 stamps which has (some) flags of the 50 states. And American Samoa is in there, too.

Anyway, I've got some comments about some of these state flags:

Alabama: Those bars look like they want some stars. Kind of a stealth confederate flag.

Alaska: Looks like a ripoff of Indiana's state flag.

Arizona: Looks like it was designed in the early '70s, by either hippies or small children.

Arkansas: Appears inspired by a beer can label. Or maybe a chewing tobacco brand.

California: When I think of the vast state of California, many things come to mind. None of them involve brown bears or red stars. Just typing these words makes me think that California's flag might be more appropriate for a Russian state than an American one.

Colorado: More like a sports team logo than a state flag, imo.

Connecticut: Very regal for such a small state. I bet they missed King George after the revolution.

Delaware: Hard to make out on the postage stamp, but looks a medieval cartoon on a surprisingly tasteful and modern color combination.


Apparently there are only ten different flags per roll, so I went looking for the rest:

Florida: Identical to Alabama (stealth confederate flag) only with a state seal or something slapped in the center.

Hawaii: What the... there's a damn Union Jack in the upper left corner of this flag!

Indiana: Probably just nostalgia, but I still think this is a nice-looking flag... looks like a sphere of golden stars hovering around a golden torch.

Iowa: Take the flag of France and slap a bald eagle, some slogan and the word Iowa in the white section.

Louisiana: With the newest flag (2006), I had high hopes for Louisiana, but it's pretty much just a mother pelican with a nest of babies, above some motto.

Maryland: Looks like an unhappy collision of art deco, heraldry, and a racing flag.

Mississippi: Let's not even bother hiding that confederate flag, let's just put in the same corner where Hawaii has a Union Jack.

Ohio: More of a pennant than a flag.

Oregon: Although the entire flag is gold stuff on a deep blue background, the front of the flag is different from the back. The front has the state name and state seal, and the back is just a golden beaver. [Insert beaver joke here.]

Rhode Island: Smaller, square flag. Probably a nautical thing, but also fits with Rhode Island being such a small state.

South Carolina: With the palm tree and the crescent moon, this flag looks oddly middle-eastern to my eye.

Washington: This was my favorite flag, just cause I like the color green.

If you aren't sure what your flag looks like, there is almost a 1 in 3 chance that it has a dark blue background with a state seal or similar thing in the center.

[i_mmmchocolate]

If you aren't sure what your flag looks like, there is almost a 1 in 3 chance that it has a dark blue background with a state seal or similar thing in the center.

Yep.

[jessecuster3]

Ha! I could tell you exactly what Chicago's flag looks like, but not Illinois'.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Ha! I could tell you exactly what Chicago's flag looks like, but not Illinois'.

Huh. I had no idea about this until now:

[jhota]

South Carolina: With the palm tree and the crescent moon, this flag looks oddly middle-eastern to my eye.

uhm, o.k.

the blue field and crescent date to 1775; it's the flag our troops flew during the Revolutionary War.

we added the palmetto tree (NOT a "palm tree") in 1861, when we revolted again.

we's just a bunch of revolting folks, i guess.

(postscript: the sabal palmetto is a member of the Arecaceae family, and therefore a "palm" tree, but it is a very specific member of that family. calling it a palm tree is like referring to a bald eagle as "a bird." sorry, we just get a little uptight about our state symbols down here. comes of too much heat cooking our brains, i think.)

[Puma]

California's flag is from the 'Bear Flag Republic' where Anglo settlers first attempted to wrest Northern California from Mexico. The star is an imitation of Texas' lone star republic and the bear is a grizzly, numerous in the state at the time.




and I always love Washington's (having been raised in the state) because it is green (Evergreen State), unique, and simple.

[jessecuster3]

Huh. I had no idea about this until now:

Don't your city police wear the flag on their coats?

[i_mmmchocolate]

Don't your city police wear the flag on their coats?

Probably-- I've never had a close look of their coats to notice, honestly.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Huh. I had no idea about this until now:

I didn't know Governor's Island was a borough.

[K'Nort]

Alaska: Looks like a ripoff of Indiana's state flag.

If you don't know basic astronomy, I suppose.


I've always thought Maryland's flag was deeply ugly. Although I'm getting used to it. Looks like jockey silks.

[EZMOHR]

I've always loved my home state's flag.

Red Zia, Yellow background. Simple. Loved it so much I altered the skin on my body and have the flag tattooed on my leg.

[TVsGrady]

Here in Virginia, our flag has a naked boobie on it. Seriously.

[Tages]

Alabama: Those bars look like they want some stars.

This is the stars and bars:



You're thinking of the Battle Flag:

[Paul McEnery]

This is the stars and bars:

I would have thought stars and bars is what Nevada would have.

[Tages]

I would have thought stars and bars is what Nevada would have.

The stars are made of neon. And pawned engagement rings.