Massachusetts has many state emblems, a state flower, a state
bird, even a state muffin, but one of the most important of these
emblems is the state flag. The first state flag was officially
adopted in 1915. It was white with gold fringe. At that time,
it had two designs, one on the front and one on the back. Today
the flag has a design only on the front while the back is blank.
On the front of the flag is the state coat of arms, which has several parts. Each represents a part of Massachusetts history. In the center of the coat of arms is a blue shield. The shield's blue color stands for the Blue Hills, which are in Canton and Milton. In fact, Massachusetts gets its name from these hills, because Massachusetts means "near the great hill" or "the place of the great hill" in the Algonquin Indian language.
An Indian stands in the middle of the shield. When the first settlers came to Massachusetts, they found many Indian tribes living here. The Indian on the shield is carrying a bow in his right hand and an arrow in his left. The arrow's tip points downward to show that the Indian is friendly. A white star is next to the Indian's head. This star has a meaning also. It shows that Massachusetts was one of the thirteen original colonies in America.
The coat of arms has two more parts, one above the shield and one below. An arm, bent at the elbow and wearing a ruffled sleeve, is on top of the shield while the hand is gripping a sword. Both the arm and the hand rest on top of a blue and gold wreath. A blue ribbon, with the state motto written on it, lies under the shield. The motto is written in Latin and it says, "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem". In English this means, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty".
The back of the first flag also had a blue shield. On that shield was a green pine tree, which symbolized how important wood was to the early settlers. Trees provided wood for houses, buildings, and ships.
Today the state flag does not have a design on the back. In November of 1971 a law was passed to make a flag with only a front design the official state flag. The new state flag is the same as the front of the first state flag.
The flag must be treated with respect. When it is displayed, it
should be hung freely from a pole, or hung flat. If it is flown
with an American flag, the Massachusetts flag should be flown
lower. But if it is flown with a flag from an organization or
group, the Massachusetts flag should be higher.
2. What type of Indian is on the flag?
3. Why would it have been important to the early settlers for
the Indians to be friendly?
4. Name three parts of the state coat of arms.
5. Why must the flag be treated with respect? The State Flag:
1. What is the difference between the first Massachusetts flag
and the flag we have now?
Questions for Discussion
The first flag had two designs, one on the front, one on the
back. The current flag has only a front design.
An Algonquin Indian.
Answers will vary.
Answers can be any combination of motto, arm and sword, star,
Indian, ribbon, arrow, and shield.
Answers will vary.