Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 950 CMR - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH › Title 950 CMR 34.00 - Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Flags, Arms And Seal Specifications › Section 34.01 - General Requirements

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(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.