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Utah is a rich, diverse place with people and cultures as unique as the landscape itself — and government leaders believe it's time to celebrate that with a new state flag.
The Utah State Flag Task Force is on a mission to redesign the current state flag while honoring its history. For those concerned that the familiar old, navy blue banner will disappear forever, don't worry — it'll likely become the Governor's flag. In the meantime, the state hopes to create a more distinctive version that better represents all Utahns. And they need your help.
Why now?
Some may wonder what sparked this sudden redesign. Well, this isn't the first time Utah's flag has gotten a slight makeover. Over the years, subtle changes have made their way into the Beehive State banner, such as adding a gold circle around the seal and repositioning the year 1896. But this change will be significantly different. State lawmakers are hoping for something more memorable to show "who we are now," instead of just a portion of history.
It all comes down to one word: representation. A recent poll of Utah residents revealed that while most people believed the current flag represented the state well, a majority of respondents felt that the flag didn't represent them personally. And that's exactly what Gov. Spencer J. Cox and the legislature would like to remedy.
Designing a new state flag offers Utahns the chance to talk about who we are now. It's a chance to talk about bigger questions that get to the heart of our identity — while still honoring and building upon our history, Cox says..
The need for inclusive symbols
For those who wonder how the Beehive State got its name, a brief history lesson may help. Early pioneer settlers believed the beehive symbolized the importance of hard work, cooperation and the contributions of each person. Even the first proposed name of the state — "The State of Deseret" — reflects this symbol. (The word "deseret" means honeybee, according to scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
However, some feel that the beehive symbol is exclusionary because it's prominently featured in Latter-day Saints' history. Others feel that including the year 1847 on the flag poses a similar problem because it disregards the Native American tribes who occupied the land long before the pioneers.
Since symbols can speak a thousand words, the hope is that the new flag will feature symbols that spark a greater sense of unity and representation among all Utahns. These may include geographic features such as mountains and red rock formations, plants, animals or anything else that speaks to the greater population.
Help design the new Utah state flag
Now, here's the fun part: You could be the one to design Utah's new flag. (Perhaps you've even had something pop into your mind while reading this article.) If you're artistically inclined or feel that you can capture the vision of a unifying state banner, the Design Review Committee welcomes your ideas. They're hoping to create a new flag that represents Utah's identity and common values.
"A winning design should be factually accurate, inclusive, and demonstrate good flag design principles," states the committee's website.
While the concept should be simple enough for a child to remember, according to flag design experts, you'll have to follow certain guidelines for submitting your ideas. Each participant may submit up to three different flag ideas before April 30, so get to work and let the creative juices flow!
