A process that began in January, and has been discussed for longer, at More Than A Flag Day has finally come to a close.

After sifting through over submitted 7,000 flag designs, The Utah State Flag Task Force voted Thursday on the final design to send to the Utah Legislature for consideration.

More than 44,000 Utahns offered public comments during the selection process, but the final design was chosen from 20 semi-finalists selected by a group of volunteer designers.

According to the More Than A Flag website, the proposed flag was inspired by the public’s two favorite designs — which were combined to make the final red, blue, yellow and white design.

“State leaders are excited for the Utahns who participated in the conversation to join the rest of the state in considering the symbols and values represented in this new design,” reads the More Than A Flag website.

More Than A Flag provided the following list of symbols presented in the proposed state flag:

• The rugged white band represents our state’s mountain landscapes, as well as peace.
• The red evokes the red rocks of southern Utah, while the color also evokes perseverance.
• Blue represents our state’s traditions, our lakes and our dark skies.
• Embedded within the mountain shape, the beehive represents community and our state’s slogan, “Industry.”
• The gold hexagon rim around the beehive suggests strength and unity.
• The eight-pointed golden star represents hope and the state’s eight sovereign Tribal Nations.
• The placement of the star appears in the doorway of the beehive, which suggests Tribal knowledge serves as the foundation of our state.

State leaders will bring the final flag design before the Utah State Legislature in January. Regardless of whether or not a new flag is adopted, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has assured Utahns that the current state flag will not be retired entirely.

“My message to skeptical Utahns: The ceremonial flag isn’t going away; instead, we’ll fly it on special occasions and official holidays,” Henderson said Thursday on Twitter. “We can have both. We can celebrate both.

Newsletter