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The Colorado State Flag was designed by Andrewa Carlisle Carson and adopted by the Colorado General Assembly on June 5, 1911. The flag specifications seemed clear enough when adopted but modification to the ligislation was required in 1929 and in 1964. The field is comprised of three alternate stripes, the two outer stripes colered blue an the middle stripe white . At one fifth the length of the flag from the staff end is the letter "C". The color of the "C" is red. The diameter of the letter "C" is tows thirds the width of the flag, the inner line of the letter being three forths the width of its bodcy and the outer line double the length of of the inner line of the the letter. The center of the letter "C" is filled with the color gold. It was also stipulated tha the flag should have an attached cord of gold and silver intertwined with gold and silver tassles. It seems that certain specifications for the flag were not clear and some controversy arose over the precise shades of red and blue to be used in the flag. The issue was resolved by the General Assembly on February 28, 1929 when it stipulated that the red and blue colors in the flag were to be the same as the national flag. Again there was controversy that developed over the specifications for the flag. This time at issue was the size of the letter of the letter "C". The General Assembly addressed this on March 31, 1964, revising the 1911 legislation to stipulate the diameter of the letter "C" and its distance from the staff. The colors used in the Colorado State Flag represent environmental features of the state. The gold represents the abundant sunshine enjoyedby the state. The blue symbolizes the clear blue skies of colorado. White represents the snow capped mountains of the state and red represents the color of much of the state soil. The first flag of the state was designed by New Mexico historian Ralph Emerson Twitchell and featured a design quite different from the current flag. Mr. Twitchell's flag was blue with a small representation of the flag of the United States in the upper left hand corner and the New Mexico State Seal in the lower right hand corner. "NEW MEXICO" was embroidered diagonally across the field from the lower left hand corner to the upper right hand corner.
Enter the Daughters of the American Revolution who had been quite involved with the official state flag designations in other states. In 1920, the Daughters of the American Revolution suggested that a new design be adopted that was more representative of the unique character of New Mexico. This idea had many supporters and, as had been done in other states, a design competition was launched. The winner was Dr. Harry Mera, a Sante Fe physician and archeologist. The flag was constructed by Dr. Mera's wife, Reba. The simple and meaningful design features an interpretation of an ancient symbol of the sun as found on a late 19th century water jar from Zia Pueblo. This red symbol is called a "Zia" and is centered on a field of yellow.
Four is the sacred number of the Zia and can be found repeated in the four points radiating from the circle. The number four is embodied in the four points of the of the compass, North, East, South and West; in the four seasons of the year Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter; in the 24 hours of each day by sunrise, noon, evening and night; by four seasons of life, childhood, youth, adulthood and old age. The Zia also believed that with life came four sacred obligations: development of a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit and devotion to the welfare of people/family. All of these things are bound together within the circle of life.
The red and yellow colors are the colors of Isabel of Castilla brought to the continent by the Spanish Conquistadors.
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The Colorado State Flag
The New Mexico State Flag