 | What is the design of the Texas state flag? "The Texans flatter themselves--they have a government and are fighting under no recognized flag."--Santa Anna |
| | | The design is is a blue vertical bar containing a single centered white star. The remaining field is divided into white and red horizontal bars |
| | | The typically American combination of the colors red, white and blue symbolizes revolution and freedom |
| | | The adoption of the colors red, white and blue symbolizes loyalty to the nation |
| What does the star symbolize? |
| | | The Lone Star signifies Texas as a former independent republic and also serves as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico (refer to Texan State Seal.) |
| | | According to the ancient laws of heraldry a star symbolizes honor, achievement and hope and an emblem of leadership and excellence. |
| | | Each point of the star on the flag has been given an unofficial meaning. The author and historian Adina Emilia De Zavala (1861-1955), a preservationist of Texas history who served on the executive council of the Texas State Historical Association, described how each point stands for the characteristics of an outstanding citizen which are: fortitude, loyalty, righteousness, prudence, and broadmindedness. |
| What are the colors and what do the colors mean, or symbolize, in heraldry? |
| | | The color red is a symbol of hardiness, bravery, strength & valor |
| | | The color blue symbolizes vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice |
| | | The color white is a symbol of peace and honesty |
| What is the shape and flag ratio? The 'Hoist' is the width and the 'Fly' is the length. |
| | | The ratio is 2:3 meaning it is 2 units tall for every 3 units wide. |
| Who designed the Texas State Flag? |
| | | The name of the designer is believed to be Dr. Charles B. Stewart but this has never been verified |
| What is the history of the Texas State Flag? |
| | | During the Texas War of Independence (October 2, 1835-April 21, 1836) many different flags were flown. The Texan Revolution was the military conflict between the government of Mexico and Texas colonists that resulted in the establishment of the Republic of Texas after the final Battle of San Jacinto and the incident of Vince's Bridge on April 21, 1836. (Refer to the Texas State Seal for additional info) |
| | | The names of the flags flown during this period included the Lone Star and Stripes/Ensign of the First Texas Navy, the Come and Take It Flag, the Alamo Flag, the Dodson Tricolor and the Burnet Flag. |
| | | The 'Come and Take It' flag was raised at the Battle of Gonzales, the first military engagement of the Texan Revolution, in October 1835 when the Mexican authorities tried to regain a cannon that was in the hands of the settlers. |
| | | The Burnet Flag was used from 1836 to 1839 as the national flag of the Republic of Texas |
| | | The Texas Lone Star and Stripes, used by the Texas Navy, was a variation of the US Flag with the addition of a lone, white star. |
| | | The Alamo Flag was not actually flown at the Battle of the Alamo but became become a symbol of the Texan's fight for freedom and independence. The design was created by replacing the Eagle in the center of the Mexican tricolor with the date "1824". This date was a reference to the 1824 Constitution of Mexico which Texas was fighting for. |
| | | The Dodson tricolor was the first "Lone Star " design. It was created by Sarah Dodson (known as the "Betsy Ross of Texas" ) for her husband Archelaus of the Texas Volunteers. It was used during the siege at San Antonio and the capture of the Alamo. Two other Lone Star flags flew over the Alamo before its fall; the Troutman Flag of the Georgians and the McGahey Flag of Independence |
 |  |  |  |  | | Come and Take It | Burnet Flag | Lone Star & Stripes | Alamo Flag | Dodson tricolor |
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| | | 1838: The final Texan flag was introduced to the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 28, 1838, by Senator William H. Wharton and was adopted on January 25, 1839 as the final national flag of the Republic of Texas. |
| | | 1879-1933 there was no official state flag and Texas was formally until the passage of the 1933 Texas Flag Code |
| | | 1933: Texas Flag Code adopted in the constitution |
| When was the Texas State Flag officially adopted by the state's legislature? (Most US flags were designed in 19th & 20th centuries) |
| | | It was adopted June 30, 1839 |
| What is the Pledge of Allegiance and Salute? |
| | | The Pledge of Allegiance is as follows: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee,
Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."
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| | | The salute should be made by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. |
| The Texas flag is kept and used as required by the code specified in the constitution of the state. |
