Rating the 10 finalists for Illinois' state flag.

UPDATE (2/4/25): The video that I had embedded was made private but here is that same segment via Illinois Public Radio that you can listen to.

[VIDEO] This video was published to YouTube last month before voting started for a new IL state flag. And the guest on this segment - Ted Kaye of the North American Vexillological Association takes a look at the designs for a future state flag.

He notes that the states of Utah, Minnesota, and Mississippi most recently had adopted new state flags and all of those flags were discussed by Kaye on this segment. Mississippi broke the rule of not having words on a flag though allowed this was more or less a political or historic compromise.

I think his views on the state flags designs are semi-similar to mine and I slept on (the wild-card) that I think could make a great flag. The one you see in the screen cap the very top left corner - almost a true tricolor with the white space that is shaped as the letter I - the letter I is for Illinois :P. And I feel as if this could be the most American design possible.

Ranking the 50 state flags

 

[VIDEO] The Geography King on YouTube is discussing what he considers the worst to best designed state flags and including the District of Columbia - the flag of our nation's capital. I think Illinois ranks in the middle somewhere ahead of Iowa as he thinks the Illinois flag seemed designed by a professional. He seems to think a few of the state flags were designed by elementary school students. His opinion of course.

And I share this video with you for a good reason and by about 7:00 PM you will see why. I hope you enjoy this video and perhaps you might have state flags you might consider your favorite.

BTW, since this video was published last year one state - Mississippi - has changed their flag from the design you see here. Rightfully the flag of the Confederacy is considered by Geography King as a symbol of rebellion against the US. Many popularly consider the Confederacy a racist notion, however, I'm not really trying to start a debate over it. Just note that the flag of Mississippi has since been changed during the course of 2020.