Texas Almanac, 2004-2005 Page: 13

                                
State Flags and Symbols                         13

legally re-established the flag's design.
The red, white and blue of the state flag stand.,
respectively, for bravery, purity and loyalty. The proper
finial for use with the state flag is either a star or a spear-
head. Texas is one of only two states that has a flag that
formerly served as the flag of an independent nation.
The other is Hawaii.
Rules for Display of the State Flag
The Texas Flag Code was first adopted in 1933 and
completely revised in 1993. Laws governing display of
the state flag are found in sections 3100.051 through
3100.072 of the Texas Government Code. (On the Web:
www.tsi.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/flagcode.html).  A
summary of those rules follows:
The Texas flag should be displayed on state and
national holidays and on special occasions of historical
significance, and it should be displayed at every school
on regular school days. When flown out-of-doors, the
Texas flag should not be flown earlier than sunrise nor
later than sunset unless properly illuminated. It should
not be left out in inclement weather unless a weather-
proof flag is used. It should be flown with the white
stripe uppermost except in case of distress.
No flag other than the United States flag should be
placed above or, if on the same level, to the state flag's
right (observer's left). The state flag should be under-
neath the national flag when the two are flown from the
same halyard. When flown from adjacent flagpoles,
the national flag and the state flag should be of approxi-
mately the same size and on flagpoles of equal height;
the national flag should be on the flag's own right
(observer's left).
If the state flag is displayed with the flag of
another U.S. state, a nation other than the U.S., or an
International organization, the state flag should be,
from an observer's perspective, to the left of the other
flag on a separate flagpole or flagstaff, and the state flag
should not be above the other flag on the same flagpole
or flagstaff or on a taller flagpole or flagstaff. If the state
flag and the U.S. flag are displayed from crossed flag-
staffs, the state flag should be, from an observer's per-
spective, to the right of the U.S. flag and the state flag's
flagstaff should be behind the US. flag's flagstaff.
When the flag is displayed horizontally, the white
stripe should be above the red stripe and, from an
observer's perspective, to the right of the blue stripe.
When the flag is displayed vertically, the blue stripe
should be uppermost and the white stripe should be to
the state flag's right (observer's left).
If the state and national flags are both carried in a
procession, the national flag should be on the marching
right and state flag should be on the national flag's left
(observer's right).
On Memorial Day, the state flag should be dis-
played at half-staff until noon and at that time raised to
the peak of the flagpole. On Peace Officers Memorial
Day (May 15), the state flag should be displayed at half-
staff all day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day,.
The state flag should not touch anything beneath it
or be dipped to any person or things except the U.S. flag.
Advertising should not be fastened to a flagpole, flag-
staff or halyard on which the state flag is displayed. If a
state flag is no longer used or useful as an emblem for
display, it should be destroyed, preferably by burning. A

flag retirement ceremony is set out in the Texas Gov-
ernment Code at the Texas State Library Web site men-
tioned above.
Pledge to the Texas Flag
A pledge to the Texas flag was adopted by the 43rd
Legislature. It contained a phrase, "Flag of 1836' which
inadvertently referred to the David G. Burnet flag
instead of the Lone Star Flag adopted in 1839. In 1965,
the 59th Legislature changed the pledge to its current
form:
"Honor the Texas flag;
I pledge allegiance to thee,
Texas, one and indivisible."
A person reciting the pledge to the state flag should
face the flag, place the right hand over the heart and
remove any easily removable hat.
The pledge to the Texas flag may be recited at all
public and private meetings at which the pledge of alle-
giance to the national flag is recited and at state histori-
cal events and celebrations. The pledge to the Texas flag
should e recited after the pledge of allegiance to the
United States flag if both are recited.
State Song
The state song of Texas is "Texas, Our Texas'." The
music was written by the late William J. Marsh (who
died Feb. 1. 1971, in Fort Worth at age 90), and the
words by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright, also of
Fort Worth. It was the winner of a state song contest
sponsored by the legislature and was adopted in 1929.
The wording has been changed once: Shortly after
Alaska became a state in Jan. 1959. the word "Largest"
in the third line was changed by Mr. Marsh to "Boldest."
The text follows:
Texas, Our Texas
Texas. our Texas! All hail the mighty State!
Texas. our Texas! So wonderful, so great!
Boldest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test;
O Empire wide and glorious. You stand supremely blest.
Chorus
God bless you Texas!
And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth.
Thro'out the ages long.
Refrain
Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far.
Emblem of freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.
Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes! We come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.
State Motto
The state motto is "Friendship." The word Texas.
or Tejas. was the Spanish pronunciation of a Caddo
Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." (41st Legis-
lature in 1930.)
State Citizenship Designation
The people of Texas usually call themselves Texans.
However. Texian was generally used in the early period
of the state's history.