Massachusetts has unveiled the finalists for the new state seal, flag and motto, after creating a commission to decide on new symbols to represent the state.
The Seal, Flag and Motto Advisory Committee decided on three finalists for each category. More than 1,150 submissions were sent in from the public.
The decision to review the state flag and seal was approved back in 2020. The seal, which was adopted in the 1700s and is featured on the flag, has a Native American man and above his head is an arm holding a sword. Local tribes have been calling for a change to the seal for decades.
The Massachusetts state seal
The three finalists for a new state seal feature landscapes and symbols of the state. The first features a right whale and a white chickadee, symbolizing peace. The second is a crimson seal also featuring the state bird – the chickadee. There are six feathers representing Massachusetts being the sixth state to join the union and 351 dashes encircling the seal represent the cities and towns of the Commonwealth. On the third finalist, the star from the current state seal has been transformed into a sun shining over water and mountains.
The Massachusetts State flag
The first finalist for a new state flag features a blue hill with six blue and white waves. The hill, according to the designer, represents a rough translation of the word Massachusetts, “at the great hill.” The waves represent the coast and a star perched at the top is shaped like a compass rose, celebrating Massachusetts as a maritime hub…