Illinois State Flag

The Illinois Flag Commission held a competition to redesign the Illinois state flag. For my design entry, I took inspiration from a few memorable lyrics from “Illinois,” its state song:

By thy rivers gently flowing…
O'er thy prairies verdant growing…
Can be writ the nation's glory…
Abraham Lincoln's name appears…

In my flag design, the silhouetted portrait of Abraham Lincoln represents the state slogan, Land of Lincoln. The upper blue field and white star represent Illinois becoming the 21st state to join the United States. The middle green field represents “The Prairie State,” one of Illinois’ nicknames given by its first settlers. The lower blue waves represent the bodies of water Illinois borders—Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, Wabash, and Ohio Rivers.