Flag of Mississippi

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Flag of Mississippi from 1894-present

The flag of Mississippi echoes the Confederate "Stars and Bars" flag and the Confederate battle flag. It was adopted in 1894. It is the only U.S. state flag currently to incorporate the Confederate battle flag, included in the design as a memorial to Confederate dead.^[1]

1 Pledge to the Mississippi State Flag
2 1861 flag
3 2001 flag referendum
4 See also
5 Notes

[edit] Pledge to the Mississippi State Flag

The pledge to the state flag (from Miss. Code Ann., Section 37-13-7(1972)) is:

"I salute the flag of Mississippi and the sovereign state for which it stands with pride in her history and achievements and with confidence in her future under the guidance of Almighty God."

[edit] 1861 flag

The Magnolia Flag

When Mississippi seceded from the Union on January 9, 1861, as a sign of independence, the Bonnie Blue Flag (a single white star on a blue field) was raised over the capitol building in Jackson. This flag was originally used in the West Florida revolt of 1810. On January 26, Mississippi officially adopted a new flag, which included the Bonnie Blue Flag in its canton and a magnolia tree in its center field, known as the "Magnolia Flag".

[edit] 2001 flag referendum

2001 flag proposal

On April 17, 2001, a referendum to change the flag was put before Mississippi voters. The proposal would have replaced the Confederate battle flag with a blue canton with 20 stars. The outer ring of 13 stars would represent the original Thirteen Colonies, the ring of six stars would represent the six nations that have had sovereignty over Mississippi territory (Indian nations, France, Spain, Britain, the United States, and the Confederate States), and the inner and slightly larger star would represent Mississippi itself. The 20 stars would also represent Mississippi's status as the 20th member of the United States. The new flag was soundly defeated in a vote of 65% to 35%. [1] [2]