by Lucy E. Zahnle

Created on: May 24, 2010

The state flag of Iowa, born in military honor, also reflects the history of all its peoples from its Native Americans to its French settlers to its modern citizens. The design depicts the pride of Iowans in their state and in their status as citizens of the United States. 

Although Iowa became a state on December 28, 1846, Iowans were not eager to adopt a state flag. They felt that the national flag represented them very well and did not feel the need for a state flag until the First World War.

During the war, Iowa had a regiment of National Guardsmen stationed along the Mexican border beside regiments from other states. The other regiments had regimental flags to represent their units, but Iowa had none. When Iowa governor William L. Harding ordered a regimental banner to be sent to the guardsmen, he discovered that the regiment had no flag.

Enter the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)! The DAR convened a flag committee and held a design contest within their ranks. Governor Harding and the State Council on National Defense selected the winning design on May 11, 1917, choosing Dixie Cornell Gebhardt’s entry.

Mrs. Gebhardt’s design was comprised of three background stripes, one blue, one white, and one red, the blue one being nearest the flag’s staff, the white one in the middle, and the red one on the outside. The white stripe was twice as broad as the other stripes to accommodate the blazon of an American bald eagle clutching a blue ribbon with the state motto written in white letters in its talons. The state motto read, "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain." Beneath the eagle, the state’s name was emblazoned in red capital letters.

Although almost one hundred years old, this basic design still represents the state of Iowa today. The primary difference in today’s flag is a change in the motto ribbon.  The ribbon is now white, outlined in blue and the lettering is blue.

Once a design was selected, the DAR organized another committee to bankroll the fabrication of flags for Iowa’s eight outgoing regiments. One flag was sent to the Third Iowa, fighting World War One in France.  Governor Harding presented the other seven banners to units drilling at Camp Cody.

The new Iowa regimental flags were manufactured at Annin and Company of New York City and offered for general sale. Ten percent of each flag sale was donated to the American Red Cross to support their

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