Official State Flag of Missouri

The Missouri state flag was officially approved in 1913. The original flag (designed and created by Marie Elizabeth Oliver) is on display at the Secretary of State’s office in Jefferson City, Missouri. All State Flags

The stripes on the flag are symbols for bravery (red stripe), purity (white stripe), and justice (blue stripe). The center of the flag displays Missouri’s state seal surrounded by 24 stars (Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821 (although the Roman numerals at the bottom of the seal that acknowledge this date read 1820: “MDCCCXX”). All Dates of Statehood

The two grizzly bears are symbols of courage and strength. They stand on a scroll bearing the state motto: Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto (Latin for “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law”).

The bears support a shield encircled by the motto: “United We Stand, Divided We Fall (indicating Missouri’s advantage as a member of the United States). The shield displays the U.S. coat of arms on the right (a bald eagle clutching arrows and olive branches), and a grizzly bear and crescent moon on the left.

The crescent moon is a symbol that represents Missouri when the state seal was created in 1822 – a state of small population and wealth which would increase like the new or crescent moon. The crescent moon also symbolizes the “second son” (meaning Missouri was the second state formed out of the Louisiana Territory).

Above the shield is a helmet representing Missouri’s state sovereignty. The large star above the helmet surrounded by 23 smaller stars represents Missouri’s status as the 24th state. The cloud around the stars indicates the problems Missouri had in becoming a state.