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Highlands Today

Oklahoma Flag

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Mary Y. Focht

Published: March 31, 2009

In the Highlands Today of March 28, a guest opinion piece was printed concerning opinions about the Oklahoma flag.

I would like to enlighten readers about this beautiful flag.

On the blue background at the center is a buckskin shield of the Osage Indian warrior; it symbolizes Oklahoma's Indian heritage. The shield is decorated with six painted crosses; seven eagle feathers fringe the lower half of the shield. A peace pipe crossed by an olive branch appears on the face of the shield. The blue field signifies loyalty and devotion.

The shield stands for defensive warfare.

The small crosses are the Indian symbols for starts and indicate lofty ideals. The peace pipe and the olive branch symbolize a love of peace.

This information came from the World Book Encyclopedia and should help in the understanding of this symbol of the state where I was born. Understanding symbols makes appreciation of them more meaningful. However, the flag is beautiful just to be seen as it is, representing a state with a rich heritage that should make us aware of our country's rich heritage of ideals.

Mary Y. Focht
Sebring

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