With liberty and justice

Have you ever seen Newburyport’s official city flag?

Only one exists today, and it’s in the Massachusetts State House, along the east wall in the Great Hall. Look up at the middle row at position #50 and you’ll see it.

The flag was designed by Byfield manufacturer Bisgrove Designs and they didn’t make another copy.

Any other Newburyport flags you think you’ve seen, such as the greenish one hanging in the City Council chamber, is not official. (The greenish one was made exclusively for some city celebration.)

But even the State House flag is not official. Not really. It’s more of a large-scale representation of the city seal that IS in the City Council chamber.

Before I left the employ of the mayor, I’d worked with Veteran’s Agent Kevin Hunt to determine the best way to design, procure, and install new flags. I figured one to hang outside City Hall, one at the library, one for each of the schools, and so forth.

Kevin recently told me he is amid discussions with other city officials and some outside folks to best design this flag.

I don’t know how much flags cost, but maybe some businesses could step in and sponsor the purchase of so many flags. And each sponsor could receive a free flag for their own business.

Imagine walking down State Street and instead of seeing U.S. flags suspended off buntings at Chase & Lunt, you’d see a proud city flag.

And we don’t need new poles either. It appears that as long as the U.S. flag is highest, any other flag can fly below on the same pole.

Wouldn’t it be great to hoist up new flags–and new designs–on National Flag Day on June 14?

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