Flag of St. Louis

Flag of St. Louis

The flag of St. Louis, Missouri, was designed by Yale University professor Theodore Sizer and officially adopted in 1964.^[1] The flag symbolizes the confluence of the Mississippi, and Missouri rivers near St. Louis. The intersection of the blue lines is covered by a fleur-de-lis, which symbolizes St. Louis's French heritage. Although the flag is strictly the municipal flag of St. Louis, it is sometimes flown over government buildings in St. Louis County. In a 2004 poll on the North American Vexillological Association website, St. Louis’ flag was voted the fifth best design among United States city flags.^[2]

Revised Code of the City of St. Louis, (Section 1.20.010)

The design submitted by Professor Emeritus Theodore Sizer, Pursuivant of Arms at Yale university, and now on file in the office of the City register is approved, adopted and designated as the official flag of the City. The flag with a solid red background has two broad heraldic wavy bars, colored blue and white, extending from the left top and bottom corners toward left center where they join and continue as one to the center right edge. This symbolizes the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Over the point of confluence a round golden disk upon which is the fleur-de-lis of France (blue) calling attention to the French background of the early city and more particularly to St. Louis of France for whom the City is named. The golden disk represents the City and/or the Louisiana Purchase. (Heraldically, the disk is a "bezant" or Byzantine coin signifying, money or simply purchase.)

The flag's colors recall those of Spain (red and yellow or gold), Bourbon France (white and gold), Napoleonic and Republican France (blue, white and red), and the United States of America (red, white, and blue).

Similar designs used elsewhere

Flags with the Fleur-de-lis: Flag of New Orleans, Flag of Acadiana, Flag of Quebec

• The Fleur-de-lis is also used in many coats and arms, and the seals of many ancient families. It may be at one and the same time, religious, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic, especially in French heraldry.

Flags with wavy lines: Flag of the Caribbean Sea.

References

1. http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2014/02/03/happy-50th-birthday-st-louis-city-flag
2. "Washington, D.C. Tops American City Flags Survey" (Press release). North American Vexillological Association. October 2, 2004. Archived from the original on November 18, 2005.