Seal, Flag, and Motto Round Three Selections

The Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Commission has forwarded these selections through to round 3 of the process.

Seal Submissions

Submitter notes: A landscape with a North Atlantic right whale and a white chickadee. The white symbolizes peace. There are similarities with the current flag in the colors, and by including a white star.

Submitter notes: There are six feathers in a circle on a crimson background. There are six as Massachusetts was the sixth state to join the union. Turkey feathers are often associated with health and well-being, and they are also a common symbol among the Massachusetts indigenous communities. They appear frequently in clothing and decoration, and play an important role in ceremonies and dances. A circle shape represents harmony and continuity. They face clockwise to symbolize progress/moving forward. The color crimson is often associated with education here in Massachusetts, as crimson is used as an official color by Arlington Public Schools, UMass Amherst, Harvard, and MIT. There is a black-capped chickadee in the middle. The chickadee is the official state bird of Massachusetts. Underneath the 'Commonwealth of Massachusetts' text, the dashed circle has exactly 351 dashes on it. This symbolizes the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts. A diamond shape is often found in art within indigenous communities. It symbolizes the balance between humans and nature. 1788 was the year that Massachusetts became a state. Motto submission: "We are one and free." The new motto puts all Massachusetts communities, whether it be indigenous, immigrants, LGBT, or anyone else, under one. One of unity, friendship, shared goals, one people. Freedom is an essential American value, hence the new motto puts these two values into one.

Submitter notes: The star from the current flag has been transformed to a sun shining on a stylized MA landscape with water, hill, and mountain shapes.

Flag Submissions

Submitter notes: This design is named, “The Blue Hill Banner,” and it has three major elements: The first element is a blue hill shape located on the hoist side of the flag. The shape symbolizes both the hilly terrain of the state and its indigenous namesake. The state was named for the Massachusett tribe, who's name translates roughly to "at the great hill," referring to a specific hill that is better known today as Great Blue Hill. The second element is a set of six blue and white waves stretching out from the hill toward the fly side of the flag. These represent the state's vibrant coastal regions, and the number six commemorates Massachusetts' being the sixth state to join the union. Lastly, the canton of the flag displays a golden eight-pointed star centered atop the hill. The star's eight points echo the shape of a compass rose, honoring Massachusetts' status as a maritime hub, and its location atop the hill alludes to a famous sermon given by John Winthrop before to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Perhaps the most famous passage of this sermon asserts that "We must knit together in this work as one man...We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities for the supply of others' necessities...For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us." While much of the Eurocentric and imperialist ideas of Winthrop's colonial era are regrettable and far outdated, the driving sentiments behind this passage - those of putting the needs of the many over the needs of the few - ring true to the principles that I hope will guide the modern state of Massachusetts.

Submitter notes: In the center of the flag is the state flower, the mayflower. The Mayflower is a powerful symbol of Massachusetts' founding history, representing the arrival of the Pilgrim's ship in 1620 and the establishment of Plymouth Colony. The five petaled flower also holds significance in Native American traditions. Indigenous peoples of the Northeast, including the Wampanoag and other Algonquian-speaking nations, used the plant for medicinal purposes. The shape of each petal is the exact shape of the shield on the current state flag, acknowledging the flag's past. The bud of the mayflower is a six-pointed gold star. The six points represent Massachusetts admittance into the Union as the sixth state. Its gold color represents the golden dome of the Massachusetts State House. The dark blue background represents the deep waters off the coast of Massachusetts. Commonly referred to as the Bay State, Massachusetts has depended on them for sustenance throughout its history.

Submitter notes: With this flag design, there are six feathers in a circle on a crimson color background. There are six as Massachusetts was the sixth state to join the union. Turkey feathers are often associated with health and well-being, and they are also a common symbol among the Massachusetts indigenous communities. They appear frequently in clothing and decoration, and play an important role in ceremonies and dances. A circle shape represents harmony and continuity. They face clockwise to symbolize progress/moving forward. The color crimson is often associated with education here in Massachusetts, as crimson is used as an official color by Arlington Public Schools, UMass Amherst, Harvard, and MIT.

Motto Submissions

Latin: Multa Voces, una res publica

English: Many Voices, One Commonwealth

Submitter notes: “Many Voices, One Commonwealth” encapsulates a vision of diverse participation and collective identity. It's a unifying message that reflects modern Massachusetts while honoring its rich, multifaceted past.
Altogether, the proposal is a striking synthesis of visual clarity, historical continuity, and inclusive values—perfectly aligned with the Commission's call to honor both the Commonwealth's legacy and its living, evolving character.

We honor all life guided by the First Light

Submitter notes: In response to the call for a motto, seal and flag design that would represent the diversity and history of the Commonwealth I wanted to incorporate a tribute to the first Massachusett peoples. The Wampanoag and other tribes were known as "People of the First Light". Our task as current Massachusetts residents is to honor the truth of the past and strive to move forward in harmony. My suggestion for a new state motto is: "HONOR ALL LIFE GUIDED BY THE FIRST LIGHT".

Latin: Bono publico laetamur

English We Rejoice in the public good

Submitter notes: The Beverly Public Library has a bronze seal in its floor that has a motto originally written by Benjamin O Peirce. It says: Bono publico laetamur. That translates to, "we rejoice in the public good." Ever since I read that on a Beverly Public Library instagram post, I've thought it was such a perfect motto for any public entity. I'd like to submit it as a possibility for the state's motto. It expresses a hopefulness and joy about building things for communal benefit, which I think captures the best of Massachusetts.