MS commission narrows state flag options to 9. They will be cut to 5 next week.
The commission established to select a new Mississippi state flag has narrowed its options to nine designs after talking through an array of alternatives and changes on Friday.
The panel originally planned to narrow the list to five during its meeting Friday, but the group agreed that it would be better to wait until 8 a.m. on Tuesday to choose the five after having a closer look at the designs.
People are allowed to vote on their favorite flag designs on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History website.
The five options will be made into fabric flags that the commission will have a chance to observe and receive public input on.
A single flag will be chosen by Sept. 2, and it will be placed before Mississippi voters on the Nov. 3 ballot.
There were 11 flags up for debate to start Friday’s meeting, but a couple of options and alternatives were weeded out.
By the time the meeting ended, they had seven designs and two alternatives that had tweaks from the original options.
One design that features a white magnolia tree at its center was originally only in blue, but members of the panel decided to offer the design in green as well.
Katie Blount, who is the director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, said that one flag has received the most support so far from Mississippians.
“The Mississippi Department of Archive and History and individual commissioners have received lots and lots of communication from the public,” she said Friday. “We’ve also heard what people don’t like. We have had more than 700 emails in support of ‘The Great River’ flag. That’s many more than other flags have generated.
“I’ve talked to people and some feel strongly that the Magnolia flower should be part of the design. Some feel strongly that it shouldn’t.”
“The Great River” flag has had a significant marketing campaign behind it, including a website (greatriverflag.com) that gives a thorough explanation of the reasoning behind the design. The flag is blue with a red and white shield, a single star at the top and “IN GOD WE TRUST” at its base.
Of the nine remaining flags, seven feature either a magnolia flower or a magnolia tree.
Each of the designs feature the words “In God We Trust” as required by the state Legislature.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 4:15 PM.
