Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Pennsylvania’s State Flag flies outside the Warren County Historical Society. A Montgomery County legislator has proposed that the state redesign the banner

A Montgomery County representative has signaled his intent to bring forward legislation aimed at redesigning Pennsylvania’s flag.

“Can you identify the Pennsylvania flag from all the other state flags? Many would struggle as the Pennsylvania state flag is one of twenty state flags that features a seal on a blue background,” Joe Webster, a Montgomery County Democrat, wrote in a legislative memo filed recently.

“The North American Vexillological Association outlines five principles of a good flag, which are to keep it simple, use meaningful symbolism, use two or three basic colors, avoid lettering or seals, and be distinctive or be related. The Pennsylvania state flag does not embrace these principles.”

The first state flag was authorized by the General Assembly in 1799. The flag is blue and contains the state coat of arms.

A brochure from the Pa. Senate GOP describes the symbolism.

A state Coat of Arms first appeared on paper money printed in the state during the Revolutionary War and what we now recognize is “virtually identical” to one developed in 1778 by Caleb Lownes.

“It consisted of a shield; an American Bald Eagle for the crest; two harnessed black horses as supporters; and the State’s motto, ‘Virtue, Liberty and Independence,’ printed at the bottom. An olive branch and cornstalk were crossed below the shield,” the source states.

“Behind each horse was a stalk of corn, but these stalks were later omitted. Upon the shield were emblazoned the following: a black ship with white sails resting upon a blue sea, to symbolize the very extensive commerce sent forth from the State to every part of the world; a deep red plough, which signifies the natural mineral and plant resources of the Commonwealth; and three golden sheaves of wheat, which symbolize not only the splendid agricultural harvests of the State, but also her vast wealth in the field of human thought and action.”

Action to standardize the state flag was undertaken in 1907, with the blue field intended to match the blue of the U.S. flag.

The premise behind Webster’s bill is that the flag should be more recognizable.

He wrote in the memo that “it should stand out from other states while utilizing good flag principles.”

His piece of legislation would be a concurrent resolution to establish a “Pennsylvania State Flag Commission to study the history of the state flag, solicit design submissions for a new state flag, and recommend changes to the state flag.

“Pennsylvanians deserve a state flag that they can be proud of.”

This is not the first time that changes have been proposed to the state flag.

A 2007 bill passed by the House – but evidently never enacted into law – would have added the word “Pennsylvania” to the state flag, one of several failed attempts to add the word over the years.

A 2001 survey from the North American Vexillological Association of flags for states and provinces in the United States and Canada gave Pennsylvania’s flag a score of 3.69 out of 10, good for 57th out of 72 total banners.