|
The Connecticut state flag
displays the Arms of the State on each side. It
measures five feet, six inches long and four
feet, four inches wide. The field is azure blue;
the armorial bearing (shield) is argent white
and described by law as "rococo design." Rococo
refers to style distinguished by fancy curves
and elaborate ornamentation. Three supported
grape vines are depicted on the shield, each
bearing three bunches of grapes. The rococo
shield is outlined in gold and silver and is
decorated with clusters of white oak leaves and
acorns. A white streamer, cleft at each end and
bordered in gold and brown, is displayed below
the shield. The motto of the state of
Connecticut is lettered in dark blue on the
streamer. It reads Qui Transtulit Sustinet
(He who transplanted still sustains).
Symbolic elements of the flag
are represented by the three grape vines and
their supports, white oak leaves and acorns, and
the Connecticut state motto.
Perhaps the most prominent
feature of the Arms of the State are the three
grape vines positioned in the center of the
shield. Historically, these grape vines were
passed down from a seal brought from England by
Colonel George Fenwick in 1639. Colonel
Fenwick's seal served as the seal of the
Saybrook Colony and was passed on for the use of
the Connecticut Colony around 1644. It is
thought by some that the number of supported
grape vines represents three colonies, New
Haven, Saybrook and Connecticut (Hartford),
which merged as "Connecticut" by 1665. Grapes
are symbolic of good luck, felicity and
peace--evidence of God's kindness and the
goodness of providence. Vines represent strong
and lasting friendships. Of course, grape vines
are often associated with wine makers.
Qui Transtulit Sustinet
was also inherited from the Fenwick seal. This
Latin phrase has been translated as "He who
transplanted continues to sustain" or, more
commonly, "He who transplanted still sustains".
In the Connecticut State Register and
Manual, 1889: Register and Manual of the State
of Connecticut, it was written by Charles
J. Hoadly that the motto is an adaptation of
Psalms, Chapter 79, Verse 3 of the
Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible.
In the article titled The Public Seal of
Connecticut, he wrote:
"The vines [on the State Seal] symbolize the
Colony brought over and planted here in the
wilderness. We read in the 80th Psalm: 'Thou
has brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou has
cast out the heathen, and planted it':--in
Latin, 'Vineam de AEypto transtulisti,
Ejicisti gentes et Plantasti eam'; and the
motto expresses our belief that He who
brought over the vine continues to take care
of it--Qui transtulit sustinet."
Symbolic of faith and
endurance, age (antiquity) and strength, the
white oak leaves and acorns were not present on
the Fenwick seal but the oak does occur another
time in Connecticut's colonial history in the
story of the Charter Oak that was made the
official state tree in 1947.
|
Official State Flag of Connecticut
