Delawareans may even be oblivious to this fact but did you know that reggae pioneer, Bob Marley, once called Delaware home! He lived in the state during the years 1965-1977, and his son, Stephen Marley, was born in Wilmington.
Although the state’s flag colors may give off a tropical vibe, it has nothing to do with the Marley’s, its history goes back much further. Adopted on September 4, 1787, the colors on the Delaware state flag- buff, and colonial blue- represent those of a uniform worn by (then) General George Washington who later would become the first American president.
Delaware is nicknamed the “First State” because it was the first state to ratify the federal Constitution, on December 7, 1787, making it the first state admitted to the union. So naturally, they proudly display the monumental date on their flag.
Colorado
Coloradans most likely know that their state's name is Spanish for 'red-colored', referring to its red-hued earth.
Colorado's is another state flag that was adopted in 1911, and it was heavily inspired by its scenic nature. The blue represents the state’ open blue skies and the white stripe symbolizes its snowcapped Rockie mountains.
The letter “C” in the center of the flag is the same red used in the U.S. flag but also represents Colorado's rich red earth, and the golden disk inside the “C” celebrates the state’s abundant sunshine.
Connecticut
Did you know that Connecticut is officially known as "the Constitution State"? It refers to the state government's establishment of the Fundamental Orders in 1639, which is considered the first written constitution in North America.
The Connecticut state flag had already been widely accepted as the state's official flag for decades but was officially adopted in 1895. This blue flag includes a white shield with three grapevines on it that stand for religion, liberty, and knowledge, as well as the three original colonies— Saybrook, New Haven, and Connecticut (Hartford)—that merged together to become one state.
The Latin banner below the shield was inspired by the official seal bought from England by Colonel George Fenwick’s who oversaw Saybrook. It displayed the quote (and state motto)- “Qui Transtulit Sustinet," which translates from Latin to “He Who Transplanted Still Sustains."
Florida
If you fancy beaches, you'll definitely want to visit "the Sunshine State". Florida has the second-longest coastline in the country, second only to Alaska, so there's plenty of beach for everyone.
Florida was actually the first southern state to adopt their own flag after the Civil War; however, it has gone through several designs before taking on its current form in 1900. The state's seal appears in the center of a crimson St. Andrew’s cross (a reappearing theme in former Confederate state flags).
The state seal features a shoreline on which a Seminole woman is pictured spreading flowers. You may be thinking "Hey, Florida's flag also doesn't include the color blue", but if you look closely, it’s on the Native-American woman's skirt.
Georgia
If you ever visit Georgia, you must visit the Cyclorama Building, in Atlanta, home of a 385 ft long painting, which happened to be the largest mural in the world till 2004. The painting depicts a panoramic view of the Civil War battle of Atlanta.
Having had three different state flags since 2001 alone, Georgia has had a pretty high flag turnover rate. The reason being is the debate around whether or not, and to what degree, the state flag should reference the Confederate flag.
Just for a little background, the now disputable flag first made its appearance during the American Civil War when seven southern states rebelled against President Abraham Lincoln’s anti-slavery legislation and seceded from the United States.
Centuries later, the Confederate flag continued to be flown during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s to intimidate African-Americans from rioting and was even adopted by the Ku Klux Klan. The flag eventually became a symbol of segregation and white supremacy. So, you could imagine why some people may feel uneasy when they see it.
The current flag was chosen after a statewide vote in 2004. While it is still based on the Confederate flag's characteristic “stars and bars”, it no longer includes the St. Andrew’s cross it once had. For comparison, in the photo, the current state flags can be seen on the left, on the upper right is the Confederate battle flag, and beneath it the official flag of the Confederate States.