The flag of
Delaware consists of a buff-colored diamond on a field of colonial
blue, with the coat of arms of the state of Delaware inside the
diamond. Below the diamond, the date December 7, 1787, declares
the day on which Delaware became the first state to ratify the
United States Constitution. The colors of the flag reflect the
colors of the uniform of General George Washington.
The coat of arms in the center of the flag was adopted on January
17, 1777. It depicts a shield of horizontal green, blue and white
stripes. On the stripes is a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and
an ox standing on grass, all representing Delaware's agriculture.
Above the shield is a sailing ship. Supporting the shield are a
farmer on the left and a soldier on the right. The state motto,
below the shield, reads "Liberty and Independence". These symbols
are also included on the Seal of Delaware.
The current flag was adopted on July 24, 1913. Regiments from
Delaware during the American Civil War flew a similar flag with
the state coat of arms on a field of blue.
Summary of the laws that enact the flag
The design of the official state
flag shall be as follows: A background of colonial blue
surrounding a diamond of buff in which diamond is placed the
correct coat of arms of the State in the colors prescribed by law
and in accordance with § 301 of this title, with the words,
"December 7, 1787," to be inscribed underneath the diamond.
The official state colors, colonial blue and buff, are designated
by the Textile Color Card Association of the United States, Inc.,
New York, as "arno blue" Cable No. 10663, and "golden beige" Cable
No. 10781 respectively; the color shades having been determined by
Colorimetric Specifications of the National Bureau of Standards,
United States Department of Commerce, in Test No. 2, 1/140565,
dated November 18, 1954, which is on file with the Delaware Public
Archives, Dover, Delaware. The colors of the coat of arms and
other elements of the state flag shall be the following:
Husbandman, trousers of gray brown, shirt of red, hat and hilling
hoe of brown; rifleman, suit of green, binding, bag and leggings
of buff, hat of brown, powder flask and feather of gray; shield,
frame of shaded yellow, top panel of orange, center panel of blue,
lower panel of white, ox of red brown, grass and corn of green,
wheat and branches underfoot of yellow, heraldic wreath to be blue
and silver (twisted); ship under full sail to have a dark hull and
white sails; date, December 7, 1787, to be white; cord and tassels
to be blue and gold.
Governor's flag
The official flag of the Governor
of the State shall be identical to the official flag of this State
except that it shall also bear a fringe of gold surrounding the
edge of the flag and the pole upon which the Governor's flag is
carried shall have mounted thereon a model of a blue hen's
fighting cock. |
