Georgia has had the most state flags in the US, with seven official flags since 1879. Prior to this, no official state flag existed, and during the Civil War, Georgia flew a variety of flags. The most recent change was in 2003, returning to the original “Stars and Bars” design with the coat of arms of Georgia.
The state of Georgia tops the entire nation of the United States in the number of previous state flags. For example, in just over two years, between January 2001 and May 2003, Georgia changed its state flag three times. Understandably, the history of the Georgia state flag is vast in terms of the various flags used and the reasons behind so many changes. Senator Herman Perry, a colonel in the Confederate Army, produced the first official state flag in 1879. Between 1879 and 2003, seven different official flags were designed and approved.
Prior to the first official flag in 1879, no documents indicate an official state flag for Georgia. Only historical Georgia code documents exist today, outlining the requirements for regimental flags. Under the Georgia code, the governor was required to provide the Georgia militia with regimental flags featuring the state coat of arms and the name of the regiment on which the flag was flying. Records indicate that during the Civil War, Georgia flew a variety of flags, including the Secession flags, the Confederate battle flag, and all three national flags of the Confederacy.
With the introduction of the first official flag in 1879, all volunteer battalions were ordered to carry the state flag of Georgia. Governor Alfred Colquitt approved the flag design on October 17, 1879, which incorporated the Confederate “Stars and Bars” design of red and white stripes, minus the stars. The legislation dictated the extension of the blue canton from top to bottom, with a width of one third of the length of the flag.
After the turn of the century, in 1902, the state flag of Georgia changed by order of the General Assembly. The Georgia state coat of arms was added to the blue canton. No records indicate any official authorization to change the Georgia state flag again in 1906, although the flag was indeed changed. White, gold-trimmed shields including the year 1799 have been added. Immediately below the shield and coat of arms, a red, gold-edged standard with the inscription “Georgia” was added.
From 1920 until 1956, the Georgia state flag featured the official state seal instead of the white shield and coat of arms. Atlanta attorney John Sammons is credited with designing another state flag in 1956, replacing the red and white bars with a motif nearly identical to the Confederate battle flag. The new state seals also first appeared on the 1956 flag, appearing only later on state documents.
The controversy over the use of Confederate symbols in the Georgia state flag began in the late 1980s, resulting in an all-new flag design introduced in 2001. Roy Barnes, Georgia governor from 1999 to 2003, signed a new legislation outlining neutral design. Against a blue background, the state seal was depicted in the center, surrounded by 13 white stars, with a gold banner reading “History of Georgia” above a row of former United States and Georgia flags.
House Bill 380, signed by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2003, changed the Georgia state flag again. Public outcry over the changes made in 2001 and calls for a public referendum led to the 2003 redesign. Returning to the original “Stars and Bars” design, the blue canton was shortened and the state seal was replaced by the coat of arms of the Georgia. Instead of symbolizing the 13 states that separated the Union, 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies surround the coat of arms.
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