One year after starting a public contest to redesign the Montgomery flag, the city council has officially approved a new design.
For the first time since 1952, the city will have a new flag which will officially take effect on October 1.
Keep reading to learn more about the new flag design.
City of Montgomery flag
The effort to redesign the flag was led by the City Council’s Governmental Affairs & Administration Standing Committee, which invited residents and designers to submit concepts representing Montgomery’s identity, history and future.
Just months after a high school student led a movement to change Montgomery’s flag, the city wanted to to find a new design.
“As Montgomery continues to evolve, the City Council believes it is time to embrace a fresh, inclusive vision that reflects the spirit, progress, and pride of its citizens… The goal is to create a flag that embodies unity, peace, and the shared values of Montgomery’s diverse population, while respecting its rich history.”
City of Montgomery
The committee received 27 total submissions with just 10 designs meeting the contest guidelines. Five semifinalists were selected for further review before the committee ultimately chose a design submitted by Joshua Gordon, with several modifications incorporated into the final version.
Here is the meaning behind the redesign:
- Red diagonal bands symbolizing momentum, movement and the city’s evolving story
- A blue ceremonial ribbon stretching across the flag, representing renewal, unity and new beginnings
- 9 old gold stars honoring Montgomery’s nine City Council districts
- A central outlined star symbolizing Montgomery’s role as Alabama’s capital city and serving as a beacon of unity and leadership
- Olive branches above and below the central star representing peace, resilience, growth and goodwill among Montgomery’s citizens
The newly adopted design will replace all existing official City of Montgomery flags in October.
The approved design proof accompanying the resolution includes the finalized layout and color scheme selected through the public review and committee process.