The state is currently in the process of choosing a new state flag after its old one – which was the last U.S. state flag with the Confederate flag – retired in June.
The commission announced the Mississippi state flag on Monday, announcing it had limited the nearly 3,000 entries it received to 147 options for a new state flag.
The commission proposes designs that include guitars, beer cans, Largemouth bass, a Jesus meme and the Southeastern Conference logo.
Now, most of the 147 options have magnolias – the state flower – as stars. The designs are some combinations of red, white and blue, although a few choices have a green background. Some of the flags show the Mississippi state seal depicting a nobility, not unlike the American coat of arms. Other designs include waves, apparently a pinch to the Mississippi River or Gulf Coast.
The new flag design should include the phrase “In God, we trust”.
The committee will meet on Friday to decide on the final five flags, which will then be placed for public comment. The final flag will be chosen in September so Mississippi voters can vote on the new draft in November.
At the July 28 commission, former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson said, “We have a challenge ahead of us, but I can assure you one thing: we will design and approve a flag that Mississippi can be proud of.”
The Mississippi State Flag, first adopted in 1894, had red, white, and blue stripes with the Confederate flag in the upper left corner.
Critics call the Confederate flag a symbol representing the war to preserve slavery, while supporters call it a sign of Southern pride and heritage.
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