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Ashland, Massachusetts (U.S.)

image located by Valentin Poposki, 7 November 2005

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the flag

Reported at http://www.karenspilka.com/ashland_flag.htm:

"April 29, 2003
Representative Karen Spilka Behind Ashland’s New Town Flag
Boston – State Representative Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) last week announced the creation of a new Ashland town flag to the Board of Selectmen. The impetus for this project came to the Representative here in the State House. The Great Hall, one of the largest and most popular spaces for entertaining and lobbying at the State House boasts some hundred flags from municipalities all over the Commonwealth, with one glaring exception: Ashland! In working with the local girl scouts and their leader, Laura Kelly, Rep. Spilka put it to the group to design the flag based on the merits and icons of the town. The design has been finalized and can be viewed by the public at http://www.shieldsville.com/Flag.jpg. It is the Representative’s hope that the new flag can be raised in the Great Hall by the students and individuals who made it possible in late June. The cost of having four flags made will be about $2000. Rep. Spilka has pledged that she will match any donation or fundraised money from the slight salary increase she received last year. Additionally, the Selectmen have located a buried $1,600 in an account specified for an older flag project, some nine years ago. That money will be used towards the final design and production of the flags as well. “From the design, to the funding and to the actual production, this flag will be uniquely Ashland and will be the result of a collective effort,” Said Rep. Spilka. “I am happy to donate a portion of my salary to this proud moment for Ashland."

Valentin Poposki, 7 November 2005

Reported as an essay at http://www.ashlandmass.com/town_clerk/public_documents/history_of_ashlands_flag.pdf (no longer available):

"Ashland Town Flag
The flag was designed by Girl Scouts from Troup 2368 and Boy Scouts from Troop 2 along with their leaders, Karen Spilka and Cindy Shields. The symbols represent an important part of our town and distinguish the Ashland Flag from the others in the Great Hall. The colors red, white, and blue were chosen because they symbolize the United States of America and the white and blue are the town colors for the Ashland Schools. The town hall is used because of its importance to the community. The waterfall and nature scene is a symbol for why people came to the area. The Native Americans settled in this region because the water was a source of life. The Telechron Clock is displayed as 8:03 PM or 20:03 in military time, signifying 2003: the year the flag was created. The Laurel Wreath around the edge of the circle is a symbol of the wreath given to the winners of the Boston Marathon and signifies that Ashland was the first starting time of the Boston Marathon until they moved it to Hopkinton."
Ron Lahav, 3 January 2008