After months of presentations and discussions, the Minnesota State Emblem Redesign Commission approved the change of the state flag thanks to the affirmative vote of eleven of its members. Only one objected.
The new flag was designed by Andrew Prekker, a 24-year-old man living in the town of Luverne, and is called F1935. Its background is divided into two shades of blue, one navy and the other light, along with an eight-pointed white star that represents the state motto, L'Étoile du Nord.
However, the flag chosen is not exactly the initial project presented by Prekker. It had three stripes of light blue, white and green, symbolizing the importance of water, snow and nature for the state. "Overall, I wanted the design to be very simple and at the same time symbolize the various important aspects of our history, our cultures and our people," said Prekker. But the commission decided to get rid of the white and green, leaving just the light blue.
On October 30, Minnesota authorities revealed more than 2,000 designs that were submitted. That list was then shortened to three finalists on December 12. A week later, the new flag was unveiled. It will be placed on to flagpoles on May 11, 2024, the date that Minnesota celebrates its Independence Day.
The original flag was adopted in 1893, although it had modifications in 1957 and 1983.
Second state that changes its flag in less than a year
On March 23, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed the bill and executive order changing the official flag, after several years of evaluation and search for a new design. This change will happen on March 9, 2024.
The new flag features a large yellow beehive, symbolizing Utah's industrial sector, and set within a hexagon accompanied by three horizontal stripes of blue, white and red in descending order. In addition, there are five peaks drawn on the white stripe, representing the importance of the mountains in the state.
