The Michigan flag was adopted August 1, 1911 as part of the unfortunate trend creating so many navy blue state flags with state seals. The state's first flag featured on one side a portrait of Michigan's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. On the other side was the state coat of arms and “a soldier and a lady.” In 1865, the state flag changed to display the Michigan coat of arms on one side and the United States coat of arms on the other side. However, this was never codified by the legislature.
The Michigan state seal was designed by General Lewis Cass, an early territorial governor, and officially adopted at the first constitutional convention in 1836.
The shield bears a picture of a frontiersman clad in buckskin, standing on a peninsula jutting into a lake, with a rising/setting sun on the horizon. The frontiersman holds his right hand open in a gesture of friendship, but holds a rifle in his life hand, signifying his determination to protect himself.
There are three Latin phrases in the seal. On the shield is "Tuebor", which translates as "I will defend," a statement recognizing the role of Michigan's citizens in fighting the British forces during the War of 1812. (In fact, several battles of that war were fought within the borders of Michigan.) On the scroll below the shield is "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice," which translates as "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you." This is a reference both to Michigan's geographic position between the Great Lakes, and to its natural beauty. Above the seal is "E pluribus unum," which translates as "From many, one." This is the motto of the United States, and the position at the top of the seal, along with the national bird (a bald eagle), symbolizes the sovereignty of the Federal government over the state government.
The supporters are, on the left an American elk, or wapiti, and on the right a moose. Both were native to Michigan when the seal was designed.
Steve Knowlton, 10 June 1999
2.22 State coat-of-arms. The coat-of-arms shall be blazoned as follows:
Chief, Azure, motto argent Tuebor; Charge, Azure, sun-rayed rising sinister proper, lake wavey proper, peninsula dexter grassy proper, man dexter on peninsula, rustic, habited, dexter arm-raised, dexter turned, sinister arm with gun stock resting, all proper; Crest, On a wreath azure and or, an American eagle rising to the dexter, tips of wings partly lowered to base, all proper, dexter talon holding an olive branch with 13 fruit, sinister talon holding a sheaf of 3 arrows, all proper. Over his head a sky azure environed with a scroll gules with the motto "E Pluribus Unum" argent; Supporters; Dexter, An elk rampant, proper; Sinister, A moose rampant, proper; Mottoes, On the scroll unending superior narrow argent, in sable, the motto, "Si quaeris peninsulam, amoenam." On the scroll unending inferior, broader argent in sable the motto "circumspice."
Joe McMillan, 14 February 2000 |
