Here’s a trivia tidbit about our state seal (and therefore our state flag) — the New Hampshire state flag is the only state flag that depicts another state.
According to multiple sources, the ship currently shown on New Hampshire’s state flag is the frigate “Raleigh,” shown under construction on a sand bar. It was built on Badger’s Island, the site of a revolutionary shipyard that was owned by John Langdon (who later became New Hampshire’s first governor).
Here on Badger Island, in 1776 not only the ship Raleigh was built, and later in 1777 the famous ship “Ranger” was constructed. Badger Island today is part of Kittery, Maine.
You have to wonder about the choice of this particular ship as the primary symbol. According to our state web site: “The Raleigh has a checkered career of adversities, while becoming the first to carry the American flag into sea battle. She was unable to go to sea for 15 months for lack of armament, and after her first voyage to France for munitions, her captain was dismissed for incompetency. Soon thereafter she was beached off Maine, captured by British warships, and used for the remainder of the Revolutionary War against her own country.”
In 2002 and later in 2004 there were proposals made to New Hampshire’s state Legislature to change our state seal (and therefore our state flag). Some people wanted to add the now defunct Old Man of the Mountain. Bad idea folks.
As Seacoast.com reported, “According to the Associated Press, replacing the state flag would cost the state, $64,500, cities and towns, $80,496 and counties $3,010.”
Let’s not.
Janice
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