Finalists finally unveiled for new state seal, flag and motto

Massachusetts residents will soon have the opportunity to weigh in on promising new state seal flag and motto proposals after a commission unveiled the top three finalists in each category The Massachusetts Seal Flag and Motto Advisory Commission received more than residents design ideas and narrowed the choices down to nine selections through a rigorous review and scoring process the panel stated Six community hearings will be held in September and October as the commission looks to foster a transparent and inclusive process for everyone The top three seal options feature a right whale a chickadee encircled by turkey feathers and a star with other elements like water and hills The top three flags involve a circle of turkey feathers on a crimson background a six-pointed gold star embedded in a white mayflower against a blue background and blue hills and waves with an eight-pointed gold star The motto selections are Multae voces una res publica or Multiple voices One Commonwealth We honor all life guided by the First Light and Bono publico laetamur or We rejoice in the citizens good Teaching Secretary Pat Tutwiler who co-chairs the commission noted the emblems could transform with masses feedback They might also be polished with the help of graphic design endorsement Eastern Research Group he reported They do work nationally and they have done work similarly to this elsewhere where they ve been involved in the evolution of new flags and seals and have done so through group engagement and thoughtful processes disclosed Kate Fox commission co-chair and executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Expedition and Tourism The past iteration of the commission was unable to agree on changes to the state seal and motto The centuries-old existing state seal has drawn conflict for portraying an indigenous person on a shield with a crest above containing an arm holding a shield The directive to come up with a new seal and motto first originated with the signing by former Gov Charlie Baker of a resolve on Jan