Arizona: The State Flag

Arizona state flag. Source: Wikimedia.

Like New Mexico, Arizona has a state flag with an eye-catching graphic. It's a perfect image for branding. Easy on the eyes, easy to remember, easy to replicate, easy - and cool looking! - to tattoo on one's flesh. All of the flag details are discernible from a distance, thus the image lends itself well to bumper stickers, caps, and t-shirts, making one want to declare one's pride of home place.

From the Arizona State Library:

Arizona's state flag is divided into two halves. The top half consists of thirteen alternating red and yellow rays which represent America's thirteen original colonies.

Because Arizona is a western state, the rays shows a setting sun. The colors of the rays refer to red and yellow in the Spanish flags carried by Coronado when he came to Arizona in 1540.

The bottom half of the flag is a solid blue field, the same color as the blue in the United States flag.

A large copper colored star is superimposed in the center of the flag. This identifies Arizona as the largest producer of copper in the United States.

I contemplated the attractive simplicity of Arizona's flag the other day as I compared it to the over-designed and sometimes puzzling flags of other states. I'm looking at you, Missouri, with your two standing grizzlies that no one thinks about in conjunction with Missouri.  Not to mention that flying knight's helmet, another bear, an eagle, a quarter moon, and all those stars.

Time to rebrand with something simple, like a river. Hell, two rivers, even! Open a re-design contest to tattoo artists - they'll know what will sell.

Missouri state flag. Source: Wikimedia.