Rhode Island (U.S.)

Last modified: 2002-11-23 by rick wyatt
Keywords: rhode island | united states | rattlesnake |
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by Mario Fabretto, 24 February 1998

• Legal Description
• History
• Flag of 1882-1897
• Governor's flag
• State Military Crest
  
  
• Rhode Island National Guard Troop Command
• Rhode Island Colonial/Rev. War Flags
• Rhode Island Regiment (Revolutionalry War)

See also:

• Cranston
• Rhode Island Symbols
• United States of America
• States of the United States

One of the original 13 colonies, Rhode Island is represented by a star and a stripe on the 13 star U.S. flags.

Rhode Island General Laws
Section 42-4-3 State flag. - The flag of the state shall be white, five feet and six inches (5'6") fly and four feet and ten inches (4'10") deep on the pike, bearing on each side in the center a gold anchor, twenty-two inches (22") high, and underneath it a blue ribbon twenty-four inches (24") long and five inches (5") wide, or in these proportions, with the motto "Hope" in golden letters thereon, the whole surrounded by thirteen (13) golden stars in a circle. The flag shall be edged with yellow fringe. The pike shall be surmounted by a spearhead and the length of the pike shall be nine feet (9'), not including the spearhead.
Joe McMillan, 20 February 2000

THE flag of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations as it presently exists was formally adopted by the General Assembly at the January Session of 1897. Rhode Island was the third of the original thirteen colonies to formally adopt a State Flag, New Jersey and New York having done so in 1896. Although of such recent origin it incorporates all the features which from time to time have been prescribed by the General Assembly. The colors, white and blue, are the same as those used in the flags carried by the regiments of the State of Rhode Island during the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. The stars which represent the thirteen original states were also used on flags of the Continental Regiments from Rhode Island during the Revolution. The anchor has been connected with Rhode Island since its foundation. In 1647 the Assembly acting under the Cromwellian Patent of 1643 setting up the Providence Plantations adopted the anchor as the seal of the province. In 1644 when a more liberal charter was granted by King Charles II to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the anchor was again chosen for the seal but the word "Hope" was added over the head of the anchor.
Chris Young, 3 August 1999

The Rhode Island flag of 188201897 was royal blue with the anchor inside of a circle of thirteen stars, all in gold.
Dave Martucci, 9 April 1997

by Joe McMillan, 26 February 2000

Adopted 1931 [smi75a]. White with a blue gold-bordered shield bearing an upright anchor; above the shield a gold scroll inscribed "State of Rhode Island," and below the shield another gold scroll inscribed "Hope;" in each corner a blue star; edged with yellow fringe. The law also provides for a pennant of the same design but gives no further details as to proportions or arrangement of the devices. (Rhode Island General Laws § 42-7-4)
Joe McMillan, 19 February 2000

by Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000

The state military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, as granted by the precursor organizations of what is now the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official Institute of Heraldry blazon is "A felt hat of the Puritan period proper (black hat, white band and gold buckle) transfixed fessways by an Indian arrow gules armed or."
Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000