MAINE STATE SYMBOLS

I have initiated legislation to restore Maine's Original Flag twice now, in 1991 and in 1997. Actually, the 1991 effort was a surprise to me after explaining to a State Senator that we are using different symbols than those prescribed by law. She asked me to send her an analysis of the situation and recomendations on correcting the situation, so I did. A number of months later I got a call from her and she told me the flag bill was being heard the following day! I was in a panic since I was the only proponent of the bill! The Adjutant General was the opponent and the bill died a quick death.

The best thing that came out of that effort was this cartoon:

In 1997, I succeeded in getting a similar bill back into the Legislature, and I even got a vote for it in the State and Local Government Committee! One other legislator, who was sympathetic but couldn't politically stick his neck out for such a thing, absented himself when the vote was taken. Oh well, the issue is not dead!