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San Antonio, Texas (U.S.)

image by Chris Pinette, 19 June 2000

Description
1932 Flag
1917 Flag

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Description

The San Antonio flag was changed in 1992. It is vertically blue and red, with a large white star (almost top-to-bottom) in the center upon which is an outline drawing of the Alamo in either black or blue. Much nicer!
Al Kirsch, 20 June 2000

Actually the current flag since 1992 has been around since 1932. However, the flag had the words San Antonio above the Alamo and the word Texas below the Alamo. This was changed in 1992 when NAVA had their yearly conference in San Antonio and informed the City Council that it was a faux pas to use words on a flag. Thus the words were removed. However, flag stores still sell 4"x6" flags of the City of San Antonio with the words on it.
Chris Pinette, 19 June 2000

The municipal website states:

"The City of San Antonio’s official flag was designed in 1935 by William Herring, deputy commander of the Texas Department of United War Veterans. Herring designed the flag for the national convention of the United Spanish War Veterans being held in San Antonio that year. The original design featured the Alamo superimposed in the center of a white Lone Star of Texas. The Lone Star shined from a field of one-half blue, representing loyalty, and one-half crimson red, which represents the blood that courses through the veins of every loyal Texan. Originally, the words “San Antonio” and “Texas” were printed across the top and bottom of the flag.

City commissioners unofficially adopted the flag in 1935 and two copies were made, one for City Hall and the other for the Chamber of Commerce. However, no action was taken to formally adopt the flag’s design until 1976. In 1992, the City was informed that it was no longer acceptable to have words on a flag. City Council passed a resolution to alter the flag’s design to the more practical design that is used today."

Ivan Sache, 30 July 2005

From NAVA's "American City Flags" (Raven 9/10): "Pete Van de Putte, president of Dixie Flag Company, suggested to Mayor Nelson Wolff that more people might fly the flag if it were less expensive, perhaps by eliminating the costly lettering. So a practical consideration led to an aesthetic improvement.
Nathan Lamm, 31 July 2005

1932 Flag

image by Blas Delgado, 19 February 2001

1917 Flag

image by Chris Pinette, 21 June 2000

From: www.yanaguana.com/documents/saflag.html

Within the next two weeks the San Antonio Municipal flag, presented in design to the city commissioners Thursday by Alzafar Temple of the Shriners, will be floating at the top of city hall flag-pole. It has been ordered and will be presented formally as soon as it arrives. The flag is designed to be used by the city or by civic or other organization, particularly when delegations visit other cities and wish some distinctive emblem wherewith to announce they are from San Antonio.

The municipal flag was designed by Arthur Storms, captain of the panel of Alzafar Temple. Upon a background of white is seen a map of the state of Texas in blue. The Alamo is depicted in white, with the words "San Antonio," also in white. Mr. Storms outlined his idea to Herbert Bernard, artist, who drew the flag. The one to be presented to the city officials and to fly at city hall will be 65 by 48 inches.

Source: The San Antonio Light, Sunday, January 28, 1917, page 5., microfilm copy.

Dov Gutterman, 18 June 2000