Changes: Delaware

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The flag of the state of Delaware consists of a buff-colored diamond on a field of colonial blue, with the coat of arms of the state of Delaware inside the diamond. Below the diamond, the date December 7, 1787, declares the day on which Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. The colors of the flag reflect the colors of the uniform of General George Washington.

The coat of arms in the center of the flag was adopted on January 17, 1777. It depicts a shield of horizontal green, blue and white stripes. On the stripes is a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and an ox standing on grass, all representing Delaware's agriculture. Above the shield is a sailing ship. Supporting the shield are a farmer on the left and a soldier on the right. The state motto, below the shield, reads "Liberty and Independence". These symbols are also included on the seal of Delaware.

The current flag was adopted on July 24, 1913. During the American Civil War, regiments from Delaware flew a flag which was similar to the state coat of arms on a field of blue.

In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial flags. NAVA members chose the Delaware flag as the 20th worst flag in the running, choosing it to be 52nd of the 72.

Proposals for a New Flag of Delaware

Shown below are various designs that have been proposed for a new flag of Delaware.

Symbolism

The Swedish flag

Proposed designs that feature or suggest the Swedish flag are commemorating New Sweden, a short-lived colony of Sweden that existed between 1638 and 1655. The colony's capital was in present-day Wilmington, Delaware, and settlements associated with it stretched along the Delaware River into parts of the modern states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The colony was short-lived, but the period of Swedish rule sets Delaware apart from other states and is still celebrated as part of the state's history and identity. The current flag of Wilmington is composed of the city seal on the Swedish flag. In 2013, the Swedish royal family visited Wilmington to commemorate the 375th anniversary of New Sweden's founding.

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 File:US-DE flag proposal Hans 10.png|{{User:HansLN/GE|p=usn|d=Oct 2016|n=10|more=1}}
 Delaware.png|Delaware State Flag Symplistic Proposal. The shield in the middle is the shield of liberty, and the plant symbolizes agriculture. The parallelogram is a crop plot. By Ed Mitchell. 2013.
-DE flag proposal Ed Mitchell 2.png|Updated Delaware state flag proposal by Ed Mitchell. 2016.
+DE flag proposal Ed Mitchell 2.png|Updated Delaware state flag proposal. I kept the existing flag’s blue field and diamond, said to represent George Washington’s uniform.  In the diamond is a “tall” ship, which speaks to the state’s history of coastal commerce.  In the negative space of the sails is the number “1” signifying that Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. By Ed Mitchell. 2016.
 Delaware flag.png|Delaware flag proposal by Arminius13
 File:US-DE flag proposal Achaley.jpg|Delaware flag proposal by Achaley.