state flag says it all for michigan

This is the Yak’s last story in celebration of Michigan Week, which ends Monday. STATE FLAG SAYS IT ALL FOR MICHIGAN T he Yak’s quest for the first 11 state symbols took him to state parks, nature preserves, an old-growth forest, an orchard, a beach and a river. But his last adventure was different because Michigan’s 12th symbol can’t be found in nature. It’s the Michigan State Flag. And it’s really two symbols in one because it includes the State Coat of Arms, the 13th symbol, which also appears on the State Seal, the 14th symbol. (The seal, or official stamp, is used on many official state documents.) But it’s the coat of arms that counts. Without it, all that would be left of the flag is the color blue; all that would be on the seal are the words “The Great Seal of the State of Michigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV.” (Those final letters are the roman numerals for 1835, the year the seal was adopted.) The flag — Michigan’s third since becoming a state — was adopted in 1911. The current coat of arms was adopted at the same time, but its basic elements date to 1835, including a Latin saying that means “I will defend” and several mini-symbols: an elk, a moose, an eagle, a peninsula, a lake and a tiny man with a gun. A gun? “The gun and ‘I will defend’ had real meaning in 1835,” said Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center. That year, Michigan troops almost fought a battle against Ohio. Tensions were growing between the United States and British Canada, and many people remembered the occupation of Detroit by British troops just 23 years earlier. “We weren’t thinking of Great Britain and Canada as we do today — as best friends,” she said. “And, of course, guns were how people got their food then.” The eagle is a symbol of the United States. Clutching both arrows and an olive branch, its message seems clear: “We love peace, but if forced we will defend ourselves.” The elk and moose are both Michigan natives. Earlier coats of arms had several other mini-symbols, including a ship, a mine, a farmer plowing, a train and logs floating down a river. Michigan forever! Stay strong. By Patricia Chargot TUEBOR Our state symbols Michigan’s Coat of Arms was inspired by the 17th Century coat of arms of the Hudson’s Bay Company, one of the earliest and largest fur-trading companies in North America. The Latin sayings mean: “From Many, One,” “I Will Defend” and “If You Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look About You.” Adults can order and buy a 3-foot by 5-foot Michigan flag at www.mich.gov/doingbusiness.

Upload: others

Post on 12-Sep-2021

2 views

Category:

Documents

0 download

Report

Download

Embed Size (px):

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: State Flag Says It All for Michigan

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