Flag of Oklahoma facts for kids
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| Name | Native America's flag |
|---|---|
| Use | Civil and state flag |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | April 2, 1925 (modifications made on November 1, 2006) |
| Design | Buffalo-skin shield with seven eagle feathers on a sky blue field. |
| Designed by | Louise Fluke |
The flag of Oklahoma is a special symbol for the state. It shows a traditional Osage buffalo-skin shield with seven eagle feathers. This shield sits on a sky blue background.
On the buffalo shield, you'll see two important symbols of peace. There's a ceremonial pipe (also called a calumet) that stands for Native American people. Next to it is an olive branch, which represents European Americans. Six golden brown crosses are also on the shield. These crosses are Native American symbols for stars.
The blue color of the flag's background was inspired by the Choctaw flag from 1860. This color also shows loyalty and devotion. The shield with the pipe and olive branch means that the people of Oklahoma love peace and are united, even if they have to defend themselves.
Oklahoma's flag is one of only two U.S. state flags that clearly show Native American symbols. The other is the New Mexico flag.
Contents
What the Oklahoma Flag Means
The flag of Oklahoma is full of important meanings. The main part is an buffalo-skin shield from the Osage Nation. This shield has two symbols of peace on it.
- The ceremonial pipe (or calumet) stands for the Native American people.
- The olive branch represents European Americans.
These two symbols together show that all people in Oklahoma are united and love peace. Six golden brown crosses are also on the shield. These are Native American symbols for stars.
The sky blue background of the flag is very important too. It was inspired by the Choctaw flag, which was used during the American Civil War. This blue color also means devotion and loyalty. The whole design shows a love for peace by a united people.
In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) looked at flag designs. They ranked Oklahoma's flag 39th out of 72 flags from Canada, U.S. states, and territories.
How to Salute the Oklahoma Flag
In 1982, the state government decided on a special way to salute the Oklahoma flag. When you salute the flag, you say:
"I salute the Flag of the State of Oklahoma: Its symbols of peace unite all people."
This salute reminds everyone about the flag's message of peace and unity.
The History of Oklahoma's Flag
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Oklahoma got its first flag in 1911. This was just four years after it became a state. That first flag used the colors red, white, and blue, just like the flag of the United States. It had a big white star in the middle on a red background. Inside the star, the number 46 was written in blue. This showed that Oklahoma was the 46th state to join the United States.
However, red flags became linked to communism around the world. Because of this, people wanted a new flag for Oklahoma. In 1924, the Daughters of the American Revolution held a contest to design a new flag.
A woman named Louise Fluke won the contest. Her design was chosen as the new state flag on April 2, 1925. This flag looked a lot like the one we have today, but it didn't have the word Oklahoma on it. The word Oklahoma was added in 1941. This was done to help people recognize the flag, especially since many people at the time couldn't read very well.
The official design of the flag hasn't changed since 1941. But over the years, many flags were made that weren't quite right. They had wrong colors, different shapes for the feathers or crosses, or other mistakes. In 2005, a Boy Scout leader noticed this problem. He was trying to find the correct flag design for patches.
Because of this, he contacted his state representative. This led to a new law, Senate Bill 1359, in 2006. Governor Brad Henry signed it into law on May 23, 2006. This law made sure that the colors and shapes on the Oklahoma flag would always be correct and official. It took effect on November 1, 2006.
Flag of the Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of Oklahoma also has a special flag. This flag was adopted in 1957. It has a forest green background with a gold fringe around the edges. In the center, it shows the state seal. Around the seal, there are five white stars arranged in a circle.
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Oklahoma para niños
