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| == Pledge of allegiance == | == Pledge of allegiance == | ||
| The ] to the state flag is: | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| :"Honor the Texas flag; | |||
| ⚫ | == Urban legend == | ||
| :I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, | |||
| :One and indivisible." | |||
| ⚫ | The pledge was instituted by the Texas Legislature in ], and originally referred to the "Texas flag of 1836" (which was the Burnet Flag, and not the Lone Star Flag then in use). In ], the error was corrected by deleting the words "of 1836". | ||
| ⚫ | == Urban legend... == | ||
| ].]] | ].]] | ||
| It is a common ] that the Texas flag is the only state flag that is allowed to fly at the same height as the ]. Allegedly, Texas has this right inherently (as a former independent nation), or because it negotiated special provisions when it joined the Union (this version has been stated as fact on a website). However, the legend is false. Neither the nor the contain any provisions regarding flags. According to the ], any state flag can be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag. The U.S. flag must be on its right (the viewer's left), however. | It is a common ] that the Texas flag is the only state flag that is allowed to fly at the same height as the ]. Allegedly, Texas has this right inherently (as a former independent nation), or because it negotiated special provisions when it joined the Union (this version has been stated as fact on a website). However, the legend is false. Neither the nor the contain any provisions regarding flags. According to the ], any state flag can be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag. The U.S. flag must be on its right (the viewer's left), however. | ||
| Although what is not an urban legend is the fact the requires that the ] be flown at the same height as the United State flag when flown on separate flagpoles. While there may be no negotiated special provisions in writing at the time of ], ] assumes it has the right as a former independent ] to display the Texas flag at the same height as other ], including that of the ]. | |||
| In practice, only non-native Texans fly the Texas flag below the U.S. flag when they are on two separate flag poles. Part of this is due to ignorance of Texas State Law and the history of Texas. It is also common practice to fly the Texas flag at the same height as foreign nation flags because Texas was once an independent country. (It should also be noted that the current state flag is the same flag that was used while Texas was independent.) | |||
| The Texas Flag is always flown underneath the United States flag when it is on the same flagpole, however. | |||
| == Similar flags == | == Similar flags == | ||
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| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 30 March 2006
The flag of Texas is defined by law as follows:
- The state flag consists of a rectangle with a width to length ratio of two to three containing: (1) a blue vertical stripe one-third the entire length of the flag wide, and two equal horizontal stripes, the upper stripe white, the lower red, each two-thirds the entire length of the flag long; and (2) a white, regular five-pointed star in the center of the blue stripe, oriented so that one point faces upward, and of such a size that the diameter of a circle passing through the five points of the star is equal to three-fourths the width of the blue stripe. The red and blue of the state flag are the same colors used in the United States flag.
The flag is known as the "Lone Star Flag" (giving Texas its nickname of the "Lone Star State"). This flag was introduced to the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 28, 1838, by Senator William H. Wharton. It was adopted on January 24, 1839 as the final national flag of the Republic of Texas.
When Texas became the 28th state of the Union on December 29, 1845, its national flag became the state flag. Texas law assigns the following symbolism to the colors of the Texas flag: blue stands for loyalty, white for strength, and red for bravery.
The Burnet Flag
The Lone Star Flag replaced the previous national flag (known as the Burnet Flag), which had been adopted on December 10, 1836. It consisted of an azure background with a large golden star, inspired by the 1810 "Bonnie Blue Flag" of the Republic of West Florida. Variants of the Burnet Flag with a white star, virtually identical to the Bonnie Blue Flag, were also common.
Pledge of allegiance
The pledge of allegiance to the state flag is:
- "Honor the Texas flag;
- I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,
- One and indivisible."
The pledge was instituted by the Texas Legislature in 1933, and originally referred to the "Texas flag of 1836" (which was the Burnet Flag, and not the Lone Star Flag then in use). In 1965, the error was corrected by deleting the words "of 1836".
Urban legend...
It is a common urban legend that the Texas flag is the only state flag that is allowed to fly at the same height as the U.S. flag. Allegedly, Texas has this right inherently (as a former independent nation), or because it negotiated special provisions when it joined the Union (this version has been stated as fact on a PBS website). However, the legend is false. Neither the Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States nor the Ordinance of Annexation contain any provisions regarding flags. According to the United States Flag Code, any state flag can be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag. The U.S. flag must be on its right (the viewer's left), however.
Although what is not an urban legend is the fact the Texas State Law requires that the state flag be flown at the same height as the United State flag when flown on separate flagpoles. While there may be no negotiated special provisions in writing at the time of annexation, Texas assumes it has the right as a former independent nation to display the Texas flag at the same height as other nations, including that of the United States.
In practice, only non-native Texans fly the Texas flag below the U.S. flag when they are on two separate flag poles. Part of this is due to ignorance of Texas State Law and the history of Texas. It is also common practice to fly the Texas flag at the same height as foreign nation flags because Texas was once an independent country. (It should also be noted that the current state flag is the same flag that was used while Texas was independent.)
The Texas Flag is always flown underneath the United States flag when it is on the same flagpole, however.
Similar flags
The flag of North Carolina is similar to the flag of Texas; North Carolina's flag has the same basic pattern as Texas'; however, the colors of the fly are reversed. In addition, the star in the hoist is smaller and is surrounded by yellow banners with dates. The Lone Star Flag predates North Carolina's current flag by 47 years.
Texas' flag is also similar to the flag of Chile, first used in 1817.
See also
External links
- Texas Flag Code
- The Handbook of Texas Online: Flags of Texas
- Flags of Texas Independence Movements 1835-1836
