Wednesday 3 August 2016

By Swan Stevens


Rhode Island, measuring only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, is the smallest of the U.S. states. Despite its small area, Rhode Island, known as the "Ocean State," boasts over 400 miles of coastline. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who had been banished from the Massachusetts colony for his advocacy of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state.

Almost 90 years after Rhode Island became the last of the original thirteen colonies to form a union, the General Assembly of the state adopted an official design for a state flag. The colors and design of the flag date back to colonial times and the original establishment of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations under King Charles II of England.

The flag was adopted on May 19, 1897. Rhode Island is the 13th state of the union, gaining statehood on May 29, 1790. It is one of the original 13 colonies that united to form the union of the United States.

Rhode Island’s first nonmilitary state flag was adopted on March 30, 1877. Its white background corresponded to the facings on state militia uniforms worn during the Revolution. The flag’s anchor and motto were represented in Rococo style and encircled by blue stars corresponding to the number of states in the Union.

The white and blue colors were taken from flags carried into battle by Rhode Island soldiers during the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. The 13 stars surrounding the anchor represent the 13 original colonies that united to form the union of the United States. The anchor has been linked as a symbol with Rhode Island since the state's foundation and it has been used with the state motto 'Hope' since 1644.

There is a barrage of cheap and inferior Rhode Island flags being imported and sold, that do not comply with the flag statute. This is bad for a number of reasons. Imported flags are cheaply made and more importantly, the designs, materials, colors, and methods of printing do not compare well with the better quality, longer-lasting, and correctly designed flags made by American manufacturers. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Rhode Island flag for the future.




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