Adopted in 1901, Maine’s first official state flag combines the Native American pine tree that represented the region and its people since before European colonization and Polaris, the North Star, representing “Dirigo,” the state’s motto. The field color, known as “buff,” is representative of tanned deer hide, a sturdy material, and refers to “standing stiff for American Independence.”

In 1909, the flag was changed to be a military color similar to flags used early in the Civil War by Maine troops. There is no known example of the official flag of the state of Maine that conforms in every detail to the legal description.

The present flag is similar to more than 20 other U.S. state flags that place their arms or seal or other significant symbols on a blue field, generally a byproduct of federal needs during the Civil War. Our flag is easily confused with these other flags and, at a distance, cannot be readily distinguished from any of them.

Changing the present flag by readopting the good old pine and Polaris flag would solve this problem, being different in both design and field color from any other U.S. state flag. It is a great design and a great state deserves a great flag!

On Nov. 5, please vote yes on Question 5.

David B. Martucci

Washington