50 Flags

When I was a kid, I briefly had a thing for memorizing state mottoes. Some of my favorite's were New Hampshire's Live Free or Die, Michigan's If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you, California's Eureka (I Have Found It), and New York's Excelsior (Ever Upward).

Not so much with state flags. You've seen one, you've seen 'em all.

But I was at a workshop recently where there were representatives from all 50 states. Before each one spoke, their state flag was displayed on a large screen.

I don't remember anything those reps said, but I did gain a new appreciation for a few of those flags. These are some of my favorites, in no particular order:

1. South Carolina. A palm and the moon. Simple and nice.




2. Virginia might be for lovers, but given the bare-breasted chick (Isn't this the original wardrobe malfunction?) on the seal, it ain't nothing to play with. Is she actually stomping the departed?



3. Califonia's flag is bold, and dates back to its territorial days. Just don't wave it around Wall St. Bears are not in season.



4. New Mexico. Enchanting.



And there was also one OMG-what-were-they-thinking-when-they-settled-on-this-design flag:

Ohio: Irregular shape, extraordinary ugliness.