Flag of Indiana

Infobox flag
Name = Indiana
Article =

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Nickname =
Use =
Symbol =
Proportion = 3:2 or 5:3
Adoption = May 31, 1917
Design = A gold torch surrounded by an outer circle of thirteen stars, an inner semi circle of five stars, and one star at the top on a field of blue.
Designer = Paul Hadley
Type = StateThe flag of Indiana was designed by Paul Hadley and officially adopted by the state of Indiana on May 31, 1917. It was the state's first official flag and has remained unchanged since then except for the creation of a statute to standardize the production of the flag.

History

To commemorate the state's 1916 centennial anniversary, the Indiana General Assembly issued a resolution to adopt a state flag. At the request of the General Assembly, a contest was sponsored by the Indiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to design a flag to serve as the official state banner. As an incentive to increase the number of submissions, the contest offered the winner a one hundred dollar cash prize. More than two hundred submissions were received and examined by the Society before a winner was selected. The entry created by Paul Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana was ultimately chosen as the winner of the contest and the cash prize.cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/history/5681.htm|title= Indiana's State Banner|publisher=IN.gov|author=Indiana Historical Bureau|accessdate=2008-06-01]

On May 31, 1917 the flag was adopted as the state's official banner. The General Assembly made only one change to Hadley's original design, they added the word "Indiana", in a crescent shape, over the top of the torch. The state "banner" was later renamed the state's "flag" in a new statute passed in 1955 that also standardized the design of the flag.

Iconography

The flag consists of a gold torch that represents liberty and enlightenment; the rays around the torch represent their far-reaching influence. The nineteen stars represent Indiana's place as the nineteenth state to join the United States. The thirteen stars in the outer loop symbolize the original Thirteen Colonies, the five inner stars represent the next five states added to the Union, and the one large star above the torch represents Indiana.Indiana Code, Title 1, Article 2, IC 1-2-2-1, added 1955]

Statute

The current statute that governs the design of the state flag states:

The flags dimensions shall be three feet fly by two feet hoist; or five feet fly by three feet hoist; or any size proportionate to either of those dimensions. The field of the flag shall be blue with nineteen stars and a flaming torch in gold or buff. Thirteen stars shall be arranged in an outer circle, representing the original thirteen states; five stars shall be arranged in a half circle below the torch and inside the outer circle of stars, representing the states admitted prior to Indiana; and the nineteenth star, appreciably larger than the others and representing Indiana shall be placed above the flame of the torch. The outer circle of stars shall be so arranged that one star shall appear directly in the middle at the top of the circle, and the word "Indiana" shall be placed in a half circle over and above the star representing Indiana and midway between it and the star in the center above it. Rays shall be shown radiating from the torch to the three stars on each side of the star in the upper center of the circle.

Usage

Several others laws govern the use of the state flag. The flag is required to be flown by all state militias and the Indiana National Guard. [Indiana Code, Title 1, Article 2, IC 1-2-2-2] It is to be on display at the Indiana Statehouse at all times. [Indiana Code, Title 1, Article 2, IC 1-2-3-1] The flag must also be displayed at any agency that is funded in part or in full by the state government, including public schools, state universities, and state parks. [Indiana Code, Title 1, Article 2, IC 1-2-3-5] In all other respects the flag should be treated with the same care and respect as the flag of the United States. [Indiana Code, Title 1, Article 2, IC 1-2-3-6]

References

See also

* List of Indiana state symbols

External links

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