When driving through Iowa, you may recall seeing a flag consisting of blue, white and red vertical stripes. It’s Iowa’s official state flag. In the center of the white stripe is an eagle carrying a streamer with the phrase “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” To learn more about the Iowa flag, including its history, keep reading.
Origins of the Iowa Flag
For nearly a century, Iowa didn’t have a flag. It wasn’t until 1917 when the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) approved a design for the first Iowa flag. The newly created flag was given to the Iowa State Council for Defense. Later that same year, Iowa accepted the design.
Iowa didn’t formally recognize this design as its official state flag until several years later. William Harding, Iowa’s governor at the time, accepted the design in 1918. With that said, official adoption of the design didn’t occur until 1921. In 1920, the DAR presented the design to Iowa’s legislation. The design was officially accepted in 1921, resulting in the modern-day Iowa flag.
Iowa has continued to use this design for its official flag ever since. According to a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), the Iowa flag is the 42nd most popular design of all U.S. state flags.
What Does the Iowa Flag Symbolize?
As shown in the photo above, the Iowa flag is relatively simple. It features three vertical stripes in blue, white and red colors. According to Dixie Gebhardt, former DAR member who was responsible for designing the Iowa flag, each of these colors holds a different meaning. The blue stripe in the Iowa flag symbolizes loyalty, justice and truth. The white stripe in the Iowa flag symbolizes purity. And the red stripe in the Iowa flag symbolizes courage.
Displaying the Iowa Flag and the American Flag Together
Like with other the state flags, you can display the Iowa flag and the American flag together. Many homeowners and business owners in the Hawkeye State proudly display both of these flags together. There’s a right way, however, and a wrong way to display them together.
When displaying the Iowa flag on the same pole as the American flag, the former should be below the latter. In other words, the American flag should be raised to the top of the pole. You can display the Iowa flag on the same pole, but it should be below the American flag.
