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Montana (U.S.): proposals for a new flag

Comments from Ed Kennick blog

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Comments from Ed Kennick blog

At billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/blogs/city-lights/article_22ef56aa-2f2d-11df-a429-001cc4c002e0.html and two weeks later at billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/blogs/city-lights/article_05603c70-3a2d-11df-80ad-001cc4c03286.html Ed Kennick blogged about his thoughts on the Montana flag.
Valentin Poposki, 25 March 2011

Mr. Jim Croft (a NAVA member) while a student in Montana tried to get the state flag changed. His design was similar to Denver Colorado, 3 stripes blue-white-red, the white in the double peak mountain (making an M), and thin as a fimbriation. I believe the vote was short by one in the House of Representatives, just prior to 1981 and then the name of the state was added instead. However, it would be better to get the story directly from Mr. Croft to get the dates & details correctly.
Lee Herold, 26 March 2011

I lived in Bozeman, Montana (proud alumnus of Montana State University) when the last flag change was worked on. In 1979 I was part of a group that petitioned the then-Governor, Tom Judge, for a change to the flag. I had the chance to meet the governor and discuss this with him. He was not very supportive of the idea of change.

The legislative committee, rather than accept one of the submissions of our "Flag Montana" group, did act on our prodding, but only to add the word "MONTANA" to the flag. The explanation is that the flag is a memorial to the 1st Montana Volunteers of the Spanish American War, and few wished to change that status. That flag can be seen here: sos.mt.gov/About_Office/State_Flag.asp

We were disappointed. We had pushed for change, but we felt we came up short. The "Flag Montana" group has since gone its own way (and one member, I believe, passed away), but I still have a passion in my heart to change the flag. I do NOT wish to disparage any veterans of the Spanish American War.

As to the flag WE proposed, it was blue on the upper 2/3rds, with a white horizontal line separating it from a lower green bar. The white bar formed an M on the left half, and a white star was above the middle of the M.

Here are some slogans and symbols that are important to Montanans...
Big Sky
Treasure State
State outline (such as on the license plate)
Cow skull
Mountains
Lewis and Clark Explorers
Geologic pick (mining)
Farm plow (farming)
Five pointed star (statehood)
The letter "M"
Edward Mooney, Jr., 28 March 2011