More than 3,400 readers responded to our poll — and they didn’t hold back.
The finalists for the new state flag, seal, and motto were recently revealed and Boston.com readers have a lot of thoughts.
After a four-plus year process, more than 1,150 submissions were sent to the Massachusetts Seal, Flag and Motto Advisory Commission. The submissions reference Massachusetts’ ideals and heritage, including references to it as the sixth state in the Union, its Indigenous background, and terrain.
The state’s current emblem has drawn controversy due to its use of colonial imagery. While many are happy to leave behind the problematic symbol, others worry it will be erasing the state’s history. The change has been met with push back from GOP lawmakers looking to unseat Governor Maura Healey.
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Kate Fox has said the nine designs are still subject to changes based on public feedback.
When we asked readers for their top picks, more than 3,421 responded to our poll, and they had a lot to say.
For state flag, 53% of readers voted for the Great Blue Hill design, followed by just 18% for The Mayflower and 16% for the Six turkey feathers. For seals, the “Peace with Liberty” option led the way with 43% of the vote, “1788” received 30%, and Lighting Our Way Forward had 17%.
As for the mottos, “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth)” took the majority with 54% of the vote, followed by “Bono publico laetamur” (We Rejoice in the public good) with 22% and “We honor all life guided by the First Light” with 13%.
Top reader votes for flag, seal, and motto
Dissatisfaction with every option was also a common theme among all three categories. Thirteen percent of the vote went to the “other” option for the flag vote, along with 10% in the seal vote and 11% for mottos. Most “other” votes went to calls to leave everything as it was. As one anonymous reader put it, “DO NOT CHANGE A THING!!!!”
“All of these flags and seals look terrible,” Frank H. in Woburn wrote.
Andie in Boston agreed writing, “The current flag/seal/motto evoke the history of Massachusetts. The current offerings look like simple minded drawings and evoke the dumbing down of our society.”
Emily in Plymouth said none of the finalists “truly represent Massachusetts.” She wrote, “The state government wants to rewrite history. If that’s the case, everything will need to be renamed! Why change a good thing?!”
“The flag and seal options are shockingly poor,” Darwin in Westwood wrote. “This whole thing feels like an enormous missed opportunity, as there were some truly amazing submissions.”
Ahead, read a sampling of reader responses.
Flag: Great Blue Hill
“I think its important to acknowledge the Indigenous people that were here first. All of my choices tie into that in some way. The flag and seal each look and feel like the right approach for their respective applications. The flag should feel like a flag, and it does. The blue hill, star and stripes are a great motif because they represent Mass., but also hint at the American flag itself without being too obvious. For the seal—crimson feels like the right color for our state—deep red autumn trees, brick buildings. It’s kind of a colonial shade of red.” – Nick, Franklin; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, “1788” seal, and “We honor all life guided by the First Light” motto
“I think these three choices taken together represent the full range of what is important about this state: the diversity of our geography; the heritage of our native peoples, and the ‘big tent’ mentality of our people.” — Peter H., Duxbury; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, “1788” seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“I like the blue in the flag & seal I selected for their reference to our coastal location. With respect to the flag, I also like the 6 waves denoting Massachusetts as the 6th state to join the Union. I selected the motto because to me it says unity despite differences.” – Mary R, Lexington; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, Peace with Liberty seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“The Great Blue Hill flag captures prominent themes of Mass. and is something I can see displayed proudly much like the Colorado flag on hats, car stickers, or other items. The Chickadee for the seal just fits. I enjoy telling others on how it’s our state bird and a common site. Despite all the hate on Reddit by those who likely had no input creatively, I think these are all great selections.” – Alex S., South End; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, “1788” seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“The Great Blue Hill flag design is unique and striking, I like the symbolism, and I also like that it recalls Mt. Greylock, a little. I have no strong feelings about the seal. Many Voices, One Commonwealth is succinct and clear; the other two are more ambiguous.” – Avery SF, North Adams; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, Lighting Our Way Forward seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
Seal: Peace with Liberty
“They are all simple, direct, colorful and thoughtful. I feel the Great Blue Hill encompasses Massachusetts spirit and I appreciate the symbolism. I like the Many voices motto. It feels hopeful for the future. The Peace with Liberty seal represents Massachusetts well too. It is artistically peaceful – representing the lessons we have hopefully learned from our past, honoring our indigenous heritage and appreciating our beautiful environment. Well done!!” – Joan S., Vineyard Haven; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, Peace with Liberty seal, “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“The turkey feathers as a way to honor the land that was here before others immigrated here. The peace with liberty seal, as it has the star from the original flag and displaying nature as we try to preserve it. And the motto, ‘multa voces, una res publica’ to represent the diversity. Although I am concerned that we are losing the native representation from many areas and I feel that the tribes should be represented in a place of honor.” – Katie, Tewksbury; voted for Six turkey feathers, Peace with Liberty seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“Peace with liberty. Nothing is simpler and and more to the point. The indigenous words are meaningful and for all people.” – Christine S., Easthampton; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, Peace with Liberty seal, and “We honor all life guided by the First Light”
“Seals – ‘Peace with Liberty’ is slightly better than the very similar ‘Lighting our Way Forward’ through its use of curved shapes within the curved space instead of jarring angles, and the additional inclusion and recognition of local wildlife. ‘1788’ like the ‘Six turkey feathers’ flag looks again like something lifted from Harvard campus, and as wonderful as Harvard is as an institution and something for all Massachusetts residents to be proud of, it and its institutional aesthetics do not represent the commonwealth or its people as a whole. Regrettably all seals fail to include the proposed new state motto and two include alternate mottoes instead.” – William H., Malden; voted for The mayflower flag, Peace with Liberty seal, “Bono publico laetamur” (We Rejoice in the public good) motto
“The seal, Peace with Liberty harkens back to colonial days and reflects for me the reason the American Revolution started.” – Dennis D., The Villages FL, formerly from Dedham and Easton; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, Peace with Liberty seal, and “Bono publico laetamur” (We Rejoice in the public good) motto
Motto: “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth)
“The current flag and seal do not need to be changed. We should stop bowing down to the loud minority because they’ve decided something is in poor taste. My guess is the majority of the Commonwealth does not find anything wrong with the current flag, seal, or motto. So why change it? And what would be the cost to ‘rebrand’ the state? I’m sure that money could be better spent elsewhere.” – Sean, Hudson; voted no change to the flag, no change to the seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“For the flag and seal, I think it’s important that they tie together. The more modern, ‘artsy’ designs, while immediately attention grabbing, are too trendy and won’t endure. ‘Many Voices’ reflects our diversity and liberal political slant, while ‘”‘One Commonwealth’ reflects our history.” – Rick P., Foxborough; voted for Six turkey feathers flag, “1788” seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“First flag, I liked, but the blue wavy lines in a flag are too similar to the black and blue flags that are being flown to divide our nation today. Second flag Mayflower, beautiful simple design, but the mayflower is a symbol of colonization which one may argue has not been a positive for the United States. I’m not crazy about the crimson and the turkey feathers, but voted for that one because crimson is the color of the state flagship universities and the Turkey is Massachusetts state bird.” – Kelly B., East Boston; voted for Six turkey feathers flag, “Lighting Our Way Forward” seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“Others look like logos for branded trucker hats for Stanley mug Starbucks sipping moms to wear on way to pick up the kiddos.” – Mike, South Shore; voted for Six turkey feathers flag, “1788” seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
“It celebrates history and the future. John Winthrop ‘City on a Hill’ is a brilliant literary illusion while also honoring the indigenous tribe. Not one at at the expense of the other.” — Anonymous; voted for Great Blue Hill flag, ‘Lighting Our Way Forward’ seal, and “Multa Voces, una res publica” (Many Voices, One Commonwealth) motto
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
Some responses were edited for grammar or clarity.