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This is the Yak’s last story incelebration of Michigan Week,
which ends Monday.
STATE FLAGSAYS IT ALL
FORMICHIGAN
The Yak’s quest for thefirst 11 state symbolstook him to state
parks, nature preserves, anold-growth forest, anorchard, a beach and a river.
But his last adventurewas different becauseMichigan’s 12th symbol can’tbe found in nature. It’s theMichigan State Flag. And it’sreally two symbols in one
because it includes theState Coat of Arms, the13th symbol, which alsoappears on the State Seal,the 14th symbol. (The seal, orofficial stamp, is used onmany official statedocuments.)
But it’s the coat of armsthat counts. Without it, all
that would be left of theflag is the color blue; allthat would be on the sealare the words “The GreatSeal of the State ofMichigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV.”(Those final letters are theroman numerals for 1835,the year the seal wasadopted.)
The flag — Michigan’sthird since becoming astate — was adopted in1911. The current coat of
arms was adopted at thesame time, but its basicelements date to 1835,including a Latin saying thatmeans “I will defend” andseveral mini-symbols: an elk,a moose, an eagle, apeninsula, a lake and a tinyman with a gun.
A gun?“The gun and ‘I will defend’
had real meaning in 1835,”said Sandra Clark, director ofthe Michigan HistoricalCenter.
That year, Michigan troopsalmost fought a battleagainst Ohio. Tensions weregrowing between the UnitedStates and British Canada,and many people rememberedthe occupation of Detroit byBritish troops just 23 yearsearlier.
“We weren’t thinking ofGreat Britain and Canada as
we do today — as bestfriends,” she said. “And, ofcourse, guns were how peoplegot their food then.”
The eagle is a symbol ofthe United States. Clutchingboth arrows and an olivebranch, its message seemsclear: “We love peace, but ifforced we will defendourselves.”
The elk and moose areboth Michigan natives.
Earlier coats of arms hadseveral other mini-symbols,including a ship, a mine, afarmer plowing, a train andlogs floating down a river.
Michigan forever! Staystrong.
By Patricia Chargot
TUEBOR
Our state symbols
Michigan’s Coat of Arms was inspiredby the 17th Century coat of arms ofthe Hudson’s Bay Company, one of theearliest and largest fur-tradingcompanies in North America. The Latinsayings mean: “From Many, One,” “I WillDefend” and “If You Seek a PleasantPeninsula, Look About You.”
Adults can order and buy a 3-foot by5-foot Michigan flag atwww.mich.gov/doingbusiness.
MARMADUKE By Brad Anderson
SHERMAN’S LAGOON By Jim Toomey
NON SEQUITUR By Wiley
MR. BOFFO By Joe Martin
JUMP START By Robb Armstrong
BLONDIE By Dean Young and Denis Lebrun
SALLY FORTH By Steve Alaniz and Francesco Marciuliano
FOXTROT By Bill Amend
LUANN By Greg Evans
ZITS By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE By Chris Browne “Get Fuzzy” will return tomorrow.FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE By Lynn Johnston
EDGE CITY By Terry & Patty LaBan
MOTHER GOOSE & GRIMM By Mike Peters
PRETEENA By Allison Barrows
OVERBOARD By Chip Dunham
GARFIELD By Jim Davis
FRAZZ By Jef Mallett
HEART OF THE CITY By Mark Tatulli
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE By Stephan Pastis
CATHY By Cathy Guisewite
CURTIS By Ray Billingsley
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 20026E DETROIT FREE PRESS | WWW.FREEP.COMCOMICS