Delaware State Flag

Adopted on July 24, 1913.

The current state flag of Delaware was adopted on July 24, 1913. The colonial blue and buff represent the colors of General George Washington's uniform. "December 7, 1787" is the day Delaware ratified the federal Constitution - becoming the first state of the union.

Although Delaware was the first state of the nation, Delaware took a long time in deciding on a state flag.  Finally, state officials authorized a design that combined elements from previous flags.

The Delaware State Flag

Delaware Flag of 1913

The coat of arms in the center of the flag was adopted on January 17, 1777. It depicts a shield of horizontal green, blue, and white stripes. On the stripes are a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and an ox standing on grass, all representing Delaware's agriculture. Above the shield is a sailing ship. Supporting the shield are a farmer on the left and a soldier on the right. The state motto, below the shield, reads "Liberty and Independence". These symbols are also included on the seal of Delaware.

The Delaware state flag has a background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff color in which the coat of arms of the state is placed. Below the diamond are the words "December 7, 1787," indicating the day on which Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. Because of this action, Delaware became the first state in the Union, and is, therefore, accorded the first position in such national events as presidential inaugurations. According to members of the original commission established to design the flag, the shades of buff and colonial blue represent those of the uniform of General George Washington. Inside the diamond, the flag recognizes the importance of commerce {the ship} and agriculture {wheat, corn, the ox and the farmer} to the state. Tribute is also paid to the revolutionary war soldiers. The words in the ribbon banner read Liberty and Independence.

Delaware Flag Law

The Delaware Code, Title 29, Chapter 3

Title 29. State Government, General Provisions.
CHAPTER 3. STATE SEAL, SONG AND SYMBOLS.
SECTION 306.
? 306. State flag.

The design of the official state flag shall be as follows: A background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff in which diamond is placed the correct coat of arms of the State in the colors prescribed by law and in accordance with ? 301 of this title, with the words, "December 7, 1787," to be inscribed underneath the diamond.

The official state colors, colonial blue and buff, are designated by the Textile Color Card Association of the United States, Inc., New York, as "arno blue" Cable No. 10663, and "golden beige" Cable No. 10781 respectively; the color shades having been determined by Colorimetric Specifications of the National Bureau of Standards, United States Department of Commerce, in Test No. 2, 1/140565, dated November 18, 1954, which is on file with the Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware. The colors of the coat of arms and other elements of the state flag shall be the following: Husbandman, trousers of gray brown, shirt of red, hat and hilling hoe of brown; rifleman, suit of green, binding, bag and leggings of buff, hat of brown, powder flask and feather of gray; shield, frame of shaded yellow, top panel of orange, center panel of blue, lower panel of white, ox of red brown, grass and corn of green, wheat and branches underfoot of yellow, heraldric wreath to be blue and silver (twisted); ship under full sail to have a dark hull and white sails; date, December 7, 1787, to be white; cord and tassels to be blue and gold. (29 Del. C. 1953, ? 506; 50 Del. Laws, c. 288, ? 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, ? 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 91, ? 10.)