The State Flag of Montana

The Montana flag colors were once used by the state militia. The state seal is centered below the word MONTANA which was added in 1981. The seal represents Montana’s beautiful scenery and pioneer history. The pick and shovel shown are symbolic of mining and farming.  In the background a sun rises over mountains forests and the Great Falls of the Missouri River. The motto “Oro Y Plata” meaning Gold and Silver is on a banner at the bottom. This recalls Spain’s onetime claim to the area. The flag was officially approved in 1905.

Wisconsin State Flag

The flag of the state of Wisconsin is a blue flag charged with the state coat of arms. The flag was originally designed in 1863 when regiments from Wisconsin wanted a flag for battlefield use. However, the flag was not adopted until 1913. The flag has a deep blue background. At the top of the shield on the coat of arms is the state motto Forward. Below it is a badger which is the state animal. A sailor and miner show that the people work on both water and land. In the center is a shield with four sections. Each section represents the state’s main industries: agriculture (pick and shovel), mining (arm and hammer), manufacturing (plow) and navigation (anchor). In the center of the shield is a blue ring with the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (which is the motto of the United States). The flag was amended in 1979 to include in white letters the name of the state at the top of the coat of arms and “1848″ at the bottom, the year Wisconsin became a state. Wisconsin was the 30th state in the USA.

Flag of Wisconsin

Pennsylvania State Flag

The first state flag bearing the coat of arms was authorized by the general assembly in 1799. Pennsylvania’s current flag design was officially adopted in 1907 and now uses the same blue as the U.S. flag. The coat of arms (from 1777) sits in the center of a blue field and contains the official seal of the William Penn family, the founding family of Pennsylvania. The seal contains a ship, plow and sheaves of wheat. Draft horses (in black) are on either side of it and a bald eagle sits at its top. The draped ribbon at the bottoms reads: “Virtue, Liberty and Independence,” the state’s motto.

Flag of Pennsylvania

Ohio State Flag

Ohio’s flag is unique in shape and full of symbolism. Described as a pennant, the Ohio burgee is properly a swallowtail design and was designed by John Eisemann. The flag was adopted in 1902. The large blue triangle represents Ohio’s hills and valleys and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 17 stars in the blue field represent Ohio becoming the 17th state, and the 13 stars surrounded the state’s initial (in white), are symbolic of the original 13 colonies. The “O” also suggest Ohio’s famous nickname, “The Buckeye State.” The flag is very similar to the U.S. flag.

Flag of Ohio