THE STATE FLAG OF UTAH By Kate B. Carter 64 From the beginning of time, symbols and colors have adopted by the peoples of the world. These "banners have exercised a powerful influence over mankind. The hopes and aspirations, joys and sorrows, romance and chivalry, patriotism and loyalty of the human race are symbolized in flags. We find the origin of the flag in Divinity itself, when the Lord, after the flood, unfurled in the heavens, the first flag, the banner of the rainbow. A signal that the danger had passed and a promise was made that never again would the earth be visited by a destructive deluge. Early tribes carried banners that could easily be distinguished by their insignia. Let us not think of the flagas associated with war only, but as representing the ideals and traditions of people. In our own Country the Continental Congress adopted a flag, and many of the Colonies had flags of their own. Rhode Island adopted her flag in 1775. Following this Connecticut adopted the Lone Pine Tree flag, while some states had flags years before they were officially adopted. For instance, Louisiana's flag, which was used in the War of 1812, was not adopted officially until 1912. The state flag has the protection of the law in most states, as to defacing or defiling, the same as the National fla.g The law in Maine says that any one who defiles her flag shall be imprisoned. The State Legislature of Texas passed a special act commending a native son because of protection given the Lone Star Flag of that state when a ruffian attempted to tear and trample it. First we are citizens of the great United States.. We love our glag. All people living under it help in its making. Franklin Lane once said to me the flag seemed to say, "My Stars and My Stripes are your dreams and your labors, and they are bright with cheer brilliant with courage, firm with faith, because of you, 'The People!'" Besides being citizens of the United States, we are Utahns, loyal to our commonwealth, and as such, have a pride in our state, in its laws and its history. We have combined much that is beautiful, historical and inspiring into our flags. Our citizens have exhibited very little desrie for a knowledge of our flag, and the flag has never been displayed on State occasions. Today the desire has been awakened and more people are asking: "What is the Utah State Flag?" For the history of this flag we quote from the minute book of the Daughters of the Revolution; "At a meeting of the Daughters of Revolution held at the home of Mary E. R. Webber, April 16, 1903, Regent Mrs. Julin P. M. Farnsworth explained that the Governor had conferred the honor of making the first Utah State Flag on the Daurhters of Revolution. The manner of paying for flags was discussed, and the Daughters of the Revolution decided to pay for this first flag by voluntary contribution, each woman to pay one dollar. A committeee, on the flag, reported that it was to be a beautiful homespun silk flag. This flag was designed by a Utah craftsman interested in designs and was embroidered by Agnes Teudt, on Utah made 2 silk. It was presented to Governor Heber M. Wells in the year of 1903. The insignia was worked in outline stitch, of white silk, on a blue field, following the pattern of the State Seal, designed by Harry Edwards and which was adopted April 3, 1896, by the first Regular Session of the Legislature. Description of the State Flag of Utah: The state flag of Utah shall be a flag of blue field, fringed with gold borders with the following device worked in natural colors on the center of the blue field: The center a shield; above the shield and thereon an Anerican eagle with outstretched wigns; the top of the shield pierced with six arrows arranged corsswise; upon the shield under the arrows the word "Industry", and below the word "Industry" on the center of the shield, a beehive; on each side of the beehive, growing sego lilies; below the beehive and near the bottom of the shield, the word "Utah", and below the word "Utah and on the bottom of the shield, the figures "1847"; with the appearance of being back of the shield, there shall be two Am¬erican flags on flag-staffs placed crosswise with the flags so draped that they will project beyond each side of the shield, the heads of the flagstaffs appearing in front of the eagle's wings and the bottom of each staff appearing over the face of the draped flag below the shield; below the shield and the flags and upon the blue field, the figures "1896 around the entire design, a narrow circle in gold. The symbolism of the flag follows: The Beehive, meaning "Industry" In the founding of this state, the Pioneers, encompassed by a desert, and very few implements with which to work, had unlimited industry coupled with their faith. The honey bee seeks its maintenance from the air, soil, and water of theelements. Our pioneers took from the re¬sources around them materials with which to build their homes and villages. The Sego Lily--Our state flower, around the beehive. The legend flower of Utah, which long has been sacred to the Indians. The story is told that one morning after a great battle, where many Indians had been killed, the battlefield was covered with hundred of these little flowers, and the great spirit told the remaining red men to eat the root of the plant to save them from starvation. The Indians resolved never to fight on a battlefield where Sego Lillies grew; thus it became an inspiration of peace. Likewise, the sego lily saved the lives of many of the Utah Pioneers, in the springof '48, when their provisions ran out and their crops had not matured. They, like the Red Men, ate its roots. How fitting that the Sego Lily should be a part of our state flag. The pioneers arrived in the year 1847. In 1896 our state was admitted to the Union. The national flags, showing our patriotism to the government of the United States, are included, and the great Eagle, the emblem of our Union, with outstretched wings, giving pro¬tection over all. Following a direct history of the first flag made by the Daughters of the Revolution, we find it was accepted by Governor's flag by the Legislature, then in session. 3 During the time William Spry was Governor of Utah., a letter was written to the Utah State Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution, in which they were informed that the flag was in good condition and would be preserved by the State of Utah and would only be used upon State occasions. The second flag was made through the efforts of the Sons and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and was presented to the Battleship "Utah" in 1912, It was embroidered in natural colors by an eastern firm, and was sent to Utah, to be displayed, before being presented to the ship. When it reached here, it had a gold circle around the design, which was not a part of the pattern. Many of our people felt that this circle added to the beauty of the flag, and so, through the efforts of Annie Wells Cannon, who was a member of the House of 1933 Legislature, it was accepted and the colors and the circle adopted. Later, when the Battleship "Utah" was scrapped, the flag was burned, according to the regulations governing flags when they become tattered and torn. In the spring of 1922, Governor Mabey was asked for a state flag to be displayed in New York in a patriotic parade of states. It was found that Utah's first flag did not comply with the law governing the state flag, hence an appeal was made through the papers for such a flag. The result was that several organizations responded. The Oliver O. Howard Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic submitted the best flag, and their offer was accepted May 5, 1922. This flag was embroidered by Miss Dollie McMonegal and is now displayed in a show case in the Capitol Building. In 1926, a call was made for a flag to be hung in Independence Hall at Philadelphia. Governor Dern requested the Daughters of Utah Pioneers to make a flag, which they did. It was embroidered by Hanna Wilcox Dupont, an officer of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, following the pattern adopted by the Legislatures of 1913 and 1917. This flag was presented to Governor Dern who in turn presented it to the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. This flag was made on blue wilk and was 72 inches by 60 inches. It took 347 skeins of silk toembroider it. The perforated pattern used was made by a pattern company in New York. The handwork was exquisite and very favorable comments were made at home and at Philadelphia. Here let me say that a Utah man, a graduate of the University of Utah, said that when he entered Independence Hall and saw the flag of his state for the first time, he felt that something had been lacking in his education. Soon after this, Governor Dern again requested the Daughters of Utah Pioneers to make a large flag and once more Hanna Wilcox Dupont embroidered the flag. The Daughters of Utah Pioneers presented it ot Governor Dern, who in turn presented the flag to Memorial Hall at Valley Forge. When Governor Blood's Daughter, Hazel was to be married, she chose the Memorial Church at Valley Forge for the place of ceremony, and asked that this Utah State Flag be the only decoration--February 24, 1933 Briefly, let me say that flag No. 6 was an embroidered flag, presented to the Sons of the Grand Army of the Republic, by the 4 Daughters of the G.A.R. It was embroidered by Hanna Wilcox Dupont. Size 52 by 63 inches. No. 7 - A silk flag, with painted design, and in natural colors, was made by local people and was presented to the Exchange Club by Mr. Frank Evans--January 26, 1932. It was made under the direction of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, as were all flags following. No. 8 - A silk flag, with apinted design -- purchased by the manager of the Biglow Hotel, Ogden, to be displayed in that building. (First flag to go outside of Sast Lake City in the State of Utah.) No. 9 - A silk flag, with painted design, was loaned to the World Olympics at California, and was stolen with flags of other states, from the exhibiton. (This flag belonged to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.) No. 10 - A silk flag, with painted design, is in the posses¬sion of the State Central Company, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and is loaned to clubs and organizations located in the East and West. Nos. 11 and 12 - Cotton flags, with painted design, in natural colors, in banner style, were presented to the State Legislature by Cornelia S. Lund, a member of the 1933 House of Representatives. These were the first state flags to be hung in the Utah Legislative Halls in over 37 years of statehood. No. 13 - Cotton flag, painted design, in banner style. Presented to Summer School, Salt Lake City, by Phyllis Lund, February 14, 1933, on her 13th birthday. This was the first state flag to be hung in a school. No. 14 - Cotton flag, painted design, in banner style, presented to Orangeville High School by Miss Laura Snow in the spring of 1933. This flag was carried by the Carbon County band when they marched their way to victory at the World's Fair in Chicago, Summer of 1933. No. 15 - Flag, of same design and material, was presented to the Richfield High School by Master Summer, son of a Sevier County Company officer of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. No. 16 - A cotton flag, painted, and in banner style. Purchased by Wasatch County Company of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. No. 17 - A cotton flag, painted and in banner style. Purchased by Davis County Company of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and presented to their retiring president, Mrs. Lena Rice. No. 18 - A cotton flag, painted and in banner style. Presented to Camp 10, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, by Pioneer Sarah Walsh Swift, a handcart pioneer of 1856, in honor of her mother, Pioneer Elizabeth Strong. No. 19 - Bever County Daughters of Utah Pioneers received the 19th flag for the 24th of July celebration of 1933. This was a cotton flag, painted and in banner style. 5 It is, therefore, evident that it has been the desire of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers to preserve the State flag according to the rules and regulations governing the state flag. Some efforts have been made to simplify the flag, but the Daughters of the Pioneers protested any change in the beauty, the significance and the history portrayed in the flag of Utah. Every effort has been made to produce a flag at a price not prohibitive to schools and organizations. We are happy now to annouce that we have arranged with a young artist and craftsman, Frank Nebeker, who is prepared to supply Utah State flags of any size. Orders can be sent to him as per card enclosed or to the Central Company, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. The regulation size for the flag is 36 x 50 inches, price $4.50. The following is an opinion of Attorney General Joseph Chez in proof of this flag being the official flag of Utah: "I am in receipt of your letter of November 9, 1933, in which you request my opinion regarding our State Flag. You enclose photo¬graphs of a flag presented to the State of Utah by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and you desire to know if this meets with the specifications of law relating to our State flag. "Please be advised that legislature, Section 84-0-1, Revised Statutes of Utah, 19 33, has designed what shall be our State flag. "State Flag Described The state flag of Utah shall be a flag of blue field, fringed with gold borders, with the following device worked in natural colors on the center of the blue field; The center of the shield; above the shield and thereon an American eagle with outstretched wings; the top of the shield pierced with six arrows arranged crosswise; upon the shield under the arrows the word "Industry" and below the word "Industry" on the center of the shield, a beehive; on each side of the beehive, growing sego lilies; below the beehive and near the bottom of the shield, the word "Utah", and below the word "Utah" and on the bottom of the shield, the figures "1847"; with the appearance of being back of the shield there shall be two American flags on flagstaffs placed crosswise with the flags so draped that they will project beyond each side of the shield, the heads of the flagstaffs appearing in front of the eagle's wings and the bottom of each staff appearing over the face of the draped flag below the shield; below the shield and flags and upon the blue field, the figures "1896"; around the entire design a narrow circle in gold. "You will note that neither the dimensions nor the material from which the same shall be made is specified in this act. The flag, therefore, may be made of pater, cloth, or any other material, which, when completed, will meet the specifications as provided in the above section. You will note also that the words "With the following devide worked in natural colors" are used. It is my opinion that a flag coming within the specifications as provided above, is none less a State flag, even though the device may be "printed" instead of "worked in". 6 "I have examined the photograph of the flag enclosed by you, and so far as I am able to determine it meets the specifications as provided by law, and is, therefore, insignia of the State, and constitutes a State flag. "You are advised that no additional legislation is needed in order to adopt a State flag. "Your organization should be highly commended in its efforts to place our National and State flags in the various schools throughout the state, and the educational organizations mentioned in your letter should lend their whole-hearted support. Please accept my personal commendation."