Today, the Bennington Flag and the flag of the state of Vermont fly because I’m thinking of my friends who live there.
The Bennington Flag is one of my favorite flags from the American Revolutionary War. It is said that this flag dates from the battle of Bennington in 1777, but the evidence that the flag flew on that day is in question. It has four features which distinguish it from other similar flags: 1) The top and bottom stripes are white, while nearly all other American flags have red stripes in these locations. 2) The 76 in the canton, evoking the year the United States declared independence from Great Britain. 3) The blue canton is taller than most other flags of this style, spanning nine stripes instead of the usual seven. 4) The stars are seven pointed, rather then the usual five.
The Vermont Flag is defined in 1 V.S.A. § 495, which reads, “The Flag of the State shall be blue with the Coat of Arms of the State thereon.” It was adopted by the Vermont General Assembly on June 1, 1923.
The flag consists of the state’s coat of arms and motto on a field of azure. While the pine needle supporters of the coat of arms are represented throughout New England and symbolizes the small pine branches worn at the Battle of Plattsburgh near the end of the War of 1812, the pine tree in the middle of the coat of arms represents the Vermont forests. The cow and three sheaves of wheat represent the dairy and agriculture industries. The deer head on top represents Vermont’s wildlife. The Green Mountains are in the background as well. The motto, “Freedom and Unity”, is also used. The motto balances two different ideals, the freedom of the individual citizen, and the welfare of the common good.
Cruesbreck Flags 