Flag of Connecticut facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 3:4 |
| Adopted | September 9, 1897 |
| Design | White shield with three grapevines on a field of azure blue. |
The flag of the state of Connecticut is a special symbol for the state. It has a white shield with three grapevines on a bright blue background. Each grapevine has three bunches of purple grapes. Below the shield, there's a banner that says "Qui Transtulit Sustinet". This is Latin for "He who transplanted sustains." This phrase is Connecticut's state motto. The flag is about 5.5 feet (1.7 m) long and 4.33 feet (1.32 m) wide.
Contents
History of the Connecticut Flag
The Connecticut General Assembly officially approved the flag in 1897. This happened after Governor Owen Vincent Coffin first suggested it in 1895.
How the Flag Design Started
The flag's design comes from the old seal of the Saybrook Colony. George Fenwick created this seal in 1639. The original seal showed 15 grapevines. It also had a hand in the top left corner. A scroll with the words "Sustinet qui transtulit" was part of it.
When the Connecticut Colony bought Saybrook in 1644, they also got the seal. On October 25, 1711, the governor and lawmakers changed the seal. They reduced the grapevines from 15 to just three. These three grapevines likely stood for the three oldest settlements. These were Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. Another idea is that they represented the three colonies that joined to form Connecticut. These were the Connecticut Colony, Saybrook Colony, and New Haven Colony. The motto's words and position were also changed.
How Connecticut's Flag Ranks
In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association did a survey. Vexillology is the study of flags. They asked their members to rank the designs of 72 flags. These included flags from U.S. states, U.S. territories, and Canadian provinces. The Connecticut flag was ranked 50th out of 72 flags in this survey.
Flying the Flag at Half-Mast
The Connecticut state flag is usually flown at half-mast when the American flag is also at half-mast. This can be ordered by the U.S. President or Connecticut's Governor.
Who Decides to Lower the Flag?
Only the governor of Connecticut can decide to fly the state flag at half-mast. This power comes with their job, it's not a specific law.
Reasons for Half-Mast
The flag is often lowered when a Connecticut resident in the armed forces dies. It has also been done for the funerals of past state governors or representatives. Sometimes, it's lowered for an event that is very sad for the state.
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Connecticut para niños
