Flag of Kentucky
The flag of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, a U.S. state, was adopted by the Kentucky General Assembly on March 26, 1918. It features a navy blue field with the Commonwealth's seal at its center, the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky" above, and sprigs of goldenrod, the state flower, below. The seal depicts a pioneer and a statesman embracing, symbolizing the unity of frontiersmen and statesmen; while popular legend identifies them as Daniel Boone and Henry Clay, the official interpretation is that they represent all such figures collectively.
Kentucky's flag was designed by Jesse Cox Burgess, an art teacher in Frankfort, though flags similar to the current version were in use as early as 1880. In June 1962, the flag was standardized, specifically the flag size and the design of the seal.
In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 Canadian provincial, U.S. state, and U.S. territorial flags; Kentucky's flag was ranked 66th.
Design specifications
Kentucky Revised Statutes 2.030 states that:The statute further specifies the proportions of the flag:
The statute further specifies the flagstaff emblem and display guidelines:
History
In 1880, Joseph P. Nuckols, the Adjutant General appointed a Committee to design a flag for the State Guard. The flag was described as containing a blue background with the state seal in the center, an Eagle placed above the seal. In the eagle beak is a scroll inscribed with "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Underneath the seal in gold the Regimental or Battalion number with the letters: "K. S. G."A flag referred to as a state flag was mentioned in 1883. The design was given to the United States [Army Adjutant General's Corps|Adjutant General's Department] and was described as: "It will bear the coat-of-arms of the state, the figures being correct portraits of Daniel Boone and Dick Tateboon companions of the early day."
During the Spanish-American War, regiments from Kentucky carried a blue regimental flags bearing the state seal in the center and the regimental number ether below or above it, with the inscription "U.S.V." or "U.S.V.I."
In 1915, the Kentucky State Association of Washington D.C. request the state legislature for a flag.