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History of the Vermont State Flag

Vermont was the fourteenth state to be admitted to the union, in 1791. Proud to be a member of the United States, the first Vermont State Flag, a state militia flag, was created in October, 1803. The first Vermont state flag was created with seventeen stripes and seventeen stars in the tradition of the U.S. Flag. The word "VERMONT" was spelled out in upper case letters above the stars and stripes. Fifteen years later in 1817, the national Congress stepped back and authorized the current Vermont state flag design of thirteen stripes and a star for each state. Vermont went back to the drawing board and authorized a new design for the Vermont State Flag on October 20, 1838. This new design continued to align with that of the U.S. Flag. This new design reduced the number of red and white stripes from seventeen to thirteen. Instead of a star for each state, however, the union contained one large white star on a blue field. Within the confines of the star was displayed the Vermont Coat of Arms. This Vermont state flag remained as the official Vermont state flag until 1919. Eventually Vermonters began to desire a more unique state flag that would not be so easily confused with the flag of the United States when hanging from a pole. As the idea for a change became more prominent, it was found that the flag authorized in 1838, was not ever really used to any extent and that not many were even aware of its existence. The flag carried by Vermont regiments in the Civil War, the Spanish American War and at the outbreak of World War I was a flag that displayed the Vermont State Coat of Arms on a blue field. This design had customarily been carried as the Governor's flag. And so, in 1919, the third Vermont State Flag was authorized featuring the Vermont State Coat of Arms on a blue field. This is the Vermont State Flag as we know it today.

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