(1) The legal
descriptions of the state flag, Governor's flag, naval and maritime flag, and
the coat of arms and seal of Massachusetts and the authority under which the
present specifications for them are issued may be found in M.G.L. c. 2,
§§ 1 through 6.
(a) The coat of arms
of the commonwealth shall consist of a blue shield with an Indian thereon,
dressed in a shirt, leggings, and moccasins, holding in his right hand a bow,
and in his left hand an arrow, point downward, all of gold; and, in the upper
right-hand corner of the field a silver star of five points. The crest shall
be, on a wreath of gold and blue, a right arm, bent at the elbow, clothed and
ruffled, and grasping a broad-sword, all of gold. The motto "Ense petit
placidam sub libertate quietem" shall appear in gold on a blue
ribbon.
(b) The seal of the
commonwealth shall be circular in form, bearing upon its face a representation
of the arms of the commonwealth encircled with the inscription within a beaded
border. "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis". The colors of the arms shall
not be an essential part of said seal, and an impression from a seal engraved
according to said design, on any commission, paper, or document shall be valid
with out such colors or the representation thereof by heraldic lines or
marks.
(c) The flag of the
commonwealth shall consist of a white rectangular field, bearing on either side
a representation of the arms of the commonwealth, except that the star shall be
white. The naval and maritime flag of the commonwealth shall consist of a white
rectangular field bearing on either side a representation of a green pine
tree.
(d) The flag of the governor
shall conform to the design of the flag of the commonwealth, except that the
field of the flag of the governor shall be triangular in shape.
(e) The state secretary shall be the
custodian of the coat of arms, seal and flags of the commonwealth and all
representations of said arms, seal and flags shall conform strictly to the
specifications which shall be prepared under the direction of the state
secretary in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-one and deposited in his
office. The proper use and display of said arms, seal and flags of the
commonwealth and their manufacture are here by subject to such regulations
relating thereto which the state secretary may from time to time issue,
provided that such regulations shall be in conformity with flags shall be in
conformity with all the relevant legislation of the United States and of the
commonwealth.
(f) The flag of the
United States and the flag of the commonwealth should be displayed on the main
or administration building of each public institution of the commonwealth. The
flags shall be of suitable dimensions and shall be flown every day when the
weather permits.
(2)
Manufacturers intending to sell the state and/or naval and maritime flags of
Massachusetts to any branch of any Federal, State, county, municipal, or other
government agency within Massachusetts are required to submit to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth one sample flag in each size to be manufactured, in order
that he may determine whether the flags in question meet the design and quality
requirements of the present specifications.
(3) Alterations in the designs, proportions,
and colors of the arms, seal, and flag given in these specifications are not
authorized.
(4) Notwithstanding
950 CMR
51.01(3), the Secretary of
the Commonwealth is authorized to issue revised specifications whenever changes
in manufacturing techniques or flag usage make such changes necessary or
advisable.
(5) The apparent silence
of these specifications as to any detail shall be regarded as meaning that only
the best commercial practice is to prevail and that only materials and
workmanship of the first quality are to be used. All interpretations of these
specifications shall be made upon this basis.
