February 14, 2026 – Oregon and Arizona

Today, the flags of Oregon and Arizona fly in commemoration of their admission to to the Union.

Oregon

The State of Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859 as the 33rd state. Oregon is the only state in the union to have different designs on the front and back of its flag.

Oregon Revised Statutes § 186.010 (1) defines the flag as follows, “A state flag is adopted to be used on all occasions when the state is officially and publicly represented, with the privilege of use by all citizens upon such occasions as may be fitting and appropriate. It shall bear on one side on a navy blue field the state escutcheon in gold, supported by 33 gold stars and bearing above the escutcheon the words “State of Oregon” in gold and below the escutcheon the figures “1859” in gold, and on the other side on a navy blue field a representation of the beaver in gold.”

Arizona

The State of Arizona was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912 as the 48th state.

Arizona Revised Statues § 41-851 (B) defines the flag as follows, “The lower half of the flag a blue field and the upper half divided into thirteen equal segments or rays which shall start at the center on the lower line and continue to the edges of the flag, colored alternately light yellow and red, consisting of six yellow and seven red rays. In the center of the flag, superimposed, there shall be a copper-colored five pointed star, so placed that the upper points shall be one foot from the top of the flag and the lower points one foot from the bottom of the flag. The red and blue shall be the same shade as the colors in the flag of the United States. The flag shall have a four-foot hoist and a six-foot fly, with a two-foot star and the same proportions shall be observed for flags of other sizes.”

My Arizon flag belonged to the father of my flagpoles, John Alvis.