Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...

In 1879 the General Assembly of Georgia passed an actchanging the flag to a vertical band of blue next to the staffoccupying one-third of the flag; the remainder was divided intothree horizontal bands with the upper and lower in red and themiddle in white. In 1905 the state Seal was added to the verticalblue band.The present state flag was established by Ga. L. 1956, p. 38. Itis described as follows:"The flag of the State of Georgia shall be a vertical bandof blue next to the flagstaff, and occupying one-third ofthe entire flag; the remainder of the space to be a squareof two-thirds, the length of the flag, having the groundred; therein a broad saltier of blue, bordered with white,emblazoned with white mullets or five pointed stars,thirteen in number, corresponding in number to that ofthe Confederate States of America as recognized by theConfederate States Congress*; so that the said remaindershall be the same as the union of the flag of the Confederate States as approved and cited in Statutes at Large ofthe Confederate States Congress, 1st and 2nd Sessions,1862-3-4, and approved May 1, 1863, such remainderbeing popularly known as the Battle Flag of the Confederacy. On the blue field shall be stamped, painted, orembroidered the coat of arms of the State."engraved on it "Wisdom," the second "Justice," the third"Moderation"; on the right of the last pillar a man standingwith a drawn sword, representing the aid of the military in thedefense of the Constitution; the motto, "State of Georgia 1776."(O.C.G.A. 50-3-30)GEORGIAN'S CREED"Accepting, as I do, the principles upon which Georgia wasfounded, not for self but others; — its Democratic form ofGovernment, based on 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation'; itsnatural resources; — its Educational, Social and Religiousadvantages, making it a most desirable place to live.I will strive to be a pure upright Citizen, rejecting the evils—loving and emulating the good.I further believe it is my duty to defend it against all enemies,to honor and obey its laws, to apply the Golden Rule in all mydealings with my fellow Citizens.I feel a sense of pride in the history and heroic deeds accomplished by my fore bearers, and shall endeavor to so live that myState will be proud of me for doing my bit to make my State abetter Commonwealth for future generations."(Ga. L. 1939. pp. 1425-26).FLAG ALLEGIANCE(Ga. L. 1935, p. 1253)"I pledge allegiance to the Georgia Flag and to the principlesfor which it stands; Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation."THE GREAT SEALExcept for the date it bears, the present Great Seal has beenin use since 1799 with the exception of the period 1863-1865,when a specially designed Great Seal was used, and the period1868-1871, when it was hidden by Secretary of State Nathan C.Barnett. I n 1872, it was restored by M r. Barnett after Georgianswere again in power in the state. During the three Governors'controversy in 1947, Secretary of State Ben W. Fortson, Jr. hidthe Great Seal under the cushion of his wheelchair until theGeorgia Supreme Court decided who was the rightful ChiefExecutive.In 1914, the date on the Seal was changed by legislativeaction from 1799 to 1776 to correspond with the signing of theDeclaration of Independence. The device on one side is a viewof the seashore, with a ship bearing the flag of the United Statesriding at anchor near a wharf, receiving on board hogsheads oftobacco and bales of cotton, emblematic of the exports of thisState; at a small distance a boat, landing from the interior of theState, with hogsheads, etc., on board representing the State'sinternal traffic; in the back part of the same side a man in the actof plowing, and at a small distance a flock of sheep in differentpostures, shaded by a flourishing tree; the motto thereon,"Agriculture and Commerce, 1776." The device on the otherside is three pillars supporting an arch, with the word "Constitution" engraved within the same, emblematic of the Constitution, supported by the three departments of government, viz.,the legislative, judicial, and executive—the first pillar having•Confederate Stales Congress recognized Kentucky and Missouri, whichaccounts for the 13 stars. Each of these states had Union and ConfederateGovernments. Representatives of their Confederate Governments were admitted to the Confederate States Congress.THE CHEROKEE ROSEGeorgia State FlowerThe Cherokee Rose was designated the state flower by Ga. L.1916, p. 1046. It is believed that the rose was introduced into theState, perhaps directly from China or from China by way ofEngland. One well-known horticulturist agreeing with this viewgives the year 1757 as the date of its introduction into Englandand advances the belief that it reached the United States shortlyafterwards. The name, Cherokee Rose, is a local appellationderived from the Cherokee Indians who widely distributed theplant, which elsewhere is known by the botanical name of rosasinica. Growing wild the rose is a high climbing shrub, frequently attaining the proportions of a vine, is excessivelythorny and generously supplied with leaves of a vivid green. Itsblooming time is in the early spring but favorable conditionswill produce a second flowering in the fall of the year. In color,the rose is a waxy white and large golden center and the petalsare of an exquisite velvety texture. Because of its hardy naturethe plant is well adapted to hedge purposes and has been usedextensively in this fashion throughout the South.THE BROWN THRASHERGeorgia State BirdThe Brown Thrasher was designated by the General Assembly as the official Georgia State Bird (Ga. L. 1970, p. 418). TheThrasher is common in the eastern United States, rangingnorth to Canada and west to the Rockies. This bird is migratoryin the north, it winters in the southern states. The BrownThrasher is almost a foot long. It has rich brown color with awhite stripe on its wings; brown feathers stripe the creamywhiteness on its breast. The bird is one of the finest songstersnative to America; it is a very fine mimic, thus resembling themockingbird, to which it is closely related. It nests in low bushesor brush piles, and its eggs are thickly peppered with brownspecks. The Brown Thrasher, though vegetarian in part, is atrue friend to the farmer because of the grasshoppers, caterpillars, and worms it destroys.252