This is the Yak’s last story incelebration of Michigan Week,

which ends Monday.

STATE FLAGSAYS IT ALL

FORMICHIGAN

The Yak’s quest for thefirst 11 state symbolstook him to state

parks, nature preserves, anold-growth forest, anorchard, a beach and a river.

But his last adventurewas different becauseMichigan’s 12th symbol can’tbe found in nature. It’s theMichigan State Flag. And it’sreally two symbols in one

because it includes theState Coat of Arms, the13th symbol, which alsoappears on the State Seal,the 14th symbol. (The seal, orofficial stamp, is used onmany official statedocuments.)

But it’s the coat of armsthat counts. Without it, all

that would be left of theflag is the color blue; allthat would be on the sealare the words “The GreatSeal of the State ofMichigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV.”(Those final letters are theroman numerals for 1835,the year the seal wasadopted.)

The flag — Michigan’sthird since becoming astate — was adopted in1911. The current coat of

arms was adopted at thesame time, but its basicelements date to 1835,including a Latin saying thatmeans “I will defend” andseveral mini-symbols: an elk,a moose, an eagle, apeninsula, a lake and a tinyman with a gun.

A gun?“The gun and ‘I will defend’

had real meaning in 1835,”said Sandra Clark, director ofthe Michigan HistoricalCenter.

That year, Michigan troopsalmost fought a battleagainst Ohio. Tensions weregrowing between the UnitedStates and British Canada,and many people rememberedthe occupation of Detroit byBritish troops just 23 yearsearlier.

“We weren’t thinking ofGreat Britain and Canada as

we do today — as bestfriends,” she said. “And, ofcourse, guns were how peoplegot their food then.”

The eagle is a symbol ofthe United States. Clutchingboth arrows and an olivebranch, its message seemsclear: “We love peace, but ifforced we will defendourselves.”

The elk and moose areboth Michigan natives.

Earlier coats of arms hadseveral other mini-symbols,including a ship, a mine, afarmer plowing, a train andlogs floating down a river.

Michigan forever! Staystrong.

By Patricia Chargot

TUEBOR

Our state symbols

Michigan’s Coat of Arms was inspiredby the 17th Century coat of arms ofthe Hudson’s Bay Company, one of theearliest and largest fur-tradingcompanies in North America. The Latinsayings mean: “From Many, One,” “I WillDefend” and “If You Seek a PleasantPeninsula, Look About You.”

Adults can order and buy a 3-foot by5-foot Michigan flag atwww.mich.gov/doingbusiness.

MARMADUKE By Brad Anderson

SHERMAN’S LAGOON By Jim Toomey

NON SEQUITUR By Wiley

MR. BOFFO By Joe Martin

JUMP START By Robb Armstrong

BLONDIE By Dean Young and Denis Lebrun

SALLY FORTH By Steve Alaniz and Francesco Marciuliano

FOXTROT By Bill Amend

LUANN By Greg Evans

ZITS By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE By Chris Browne “Get Fuzzy” will return tomorrow.FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE By Lynn Johnston

EDGE CITY By Terry & Patty LaBan

MOTHER GOOSE & GRIMM By Mike Peters

PRETEENA By Allison Barrows

OVERBOARD By Chip Dunham

GARFIELD By Jim Davis

FRAZZ By Jef Mallett

HEART OF THE CITY By Mark Tatulli

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE By Stephan Pastis

CATHY By Cathy Guisewite

CURTIS By Ray Billingsley

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 20026E DETROIT FREE PRESS | WWW.FREEP.COMCOMICS