Our flag-redesign squeals might just involve coffee-clutching velociraptors and meme-ready mottos.
At a Glance
- The Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Commission received over 1,000 public submissions between May 8 and June 18, 2025.
- Submissions ranged from the traditional—pine trees, cod, Mayflower ships—to irreverent, including Dunkin’-logo flags, velociraptors holding coffee cups, and lobster motifs.
- Cheerful mottos included “Witch-free since 1693,” “In cod we trust,” and design elements showing pride flags, cannabis, and former governors.
- The commission has already narrowed down to 48 flags, 23 seals, and 32 mottos, and will select three finalists in each category ahead of public hearings; a recommendation is due by December 15, 2025.
Tradition vs. Tongue-in-Cheek
The range of submissions highlights a clash: reverence for history versus cheeky self-awareness. Traditional proposals evoked symbols like pine trees, whales, and USS Constitution. Yet the ones making headlines lean into the Bay State’s modern quirks—think coffee culture, internet humor, and state identity mash-ups.
Watch now: Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Commission Meeting — June 23, 2025 · Mass.gov
https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventDetail/26161
Vexillology Meets Meme Culture
Flag experts from the North American Vexillological Association cringe and applaud in equal measure. Ted Kaye, NAVA secretary, praised pine tree designs and the simplistic Mayflower-based flag for clarity and distinctiveness. But he laughed at the coffee-clutching dinosaur: “swift-footed lizard of Holyoke” running with a Dunkin’ brew. While not a finalist, it captures Massachusetts’ meme-rich identity.
What Comes Next
The commission will soon finalize three top contenders for flags, seals, and mottos. These will be presented at public hearings for feedback. The final recommendation heads to state officials by December 15, 2025. Lawmakers will then decide if any of the proposals become the new face of Massachusetts.
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