The History and Meaning of the Chicago Flag
Chicago's 31st Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade started on time, Sunday morning December 7, 2008, under bright, sunny, beautiful blue skies, but apparently the single digit temperatures were low enough to discourage many motorcycle owners from attending this hallowed event. But there were thousands of bikers who did ride in The Parade, despite the cold, and they are the ones who have earned my deep gratitude and respect. It's not easy to ride a motorcycle in freezing weather, on icy roads, with a minimum of protection, but these special men and women braved and bested the elements to continue a great Chicago tradition and help children to have a better Christmas. Our deepest thanks to all those who came out and rode in The 2008 Chicago Toys For Tots Parade. We are proud of them, they should be proud of themselves, and I am proud to be one of them.
For over thirty years, The Chicago Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade Motorcycle Parade has become a great Chicago tradition. This, the 31st year, the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade Organization honors the great City of Chicago by featuring the flag of Chicago on the back of the new 2008 Parade shirts. I did some research on the Chicago flag, and found that every part of the flag has a special significance.
The flag, or municipal colors, of Chicago was designed in 1917 by Wallace Rice, who lived at 2701 Best Avenue on the near, north side. The flag was a bit different looking then, because it was originally made with only two red stars, and not the four red stars that we are familiar with today. Since then, the flag of Chicago has evolved through the years. It was changed in the 1930's, when the city's City Counsel members voted, on two separate occasions six years apart, to add extra stars. That means that from 1933 to 1939 the flag of Chicago actually displayed only three red stars.
This is what the parts of the flag of Chicago signify and represent. The three white horizontal areas represent the three sections of the city of Chicago. The uppermost white horizontal stripe represents the North Side of the city. The bottom white stripe stands for the South Side of the city. The white center section represents the West Side of Chicago, and was made larger than the other white sections, because the West Side was the larger than the north or south sides.
The blue areas represent the waterways in and around Chicago. The two blue sections were originally meant to stand for the two branches of the Chicago River. But that has changed through time, and today the top blue stripe has become to symbolize not only the North Branch of the Chicago River and also Lake Michigan. The lower blue stripe now signifies the South Branch of the Chicago River and also the Great Canal.
The four red stars, and even the six individual points of each star, all represent special things about Chicago. The stars have six points, not the usual five points, because five pointed stars are traditionally only used on flags of nations. Remember, in 1917, the flag of Chicago was designed with only two stars.
The first red star symbolizes Fort Dearborn (1803), and was added to the flag in 1939. The six points of the first star signify;
1.Transportation,
2.Labor,
3.Commerce,
4.Finance,
5.Populousness, and
6.Salubrity (Healthfulness).
The second red star, one of the two original 1917 stars, represents the Chicago Fire of 1871. The six points of the second star represent;
1.Religion,
2.Education,
3.Esthetics,
4.Justice,
5.Beneficence, and
6.Civic Pride.
The third red star, the other original 1917 star, represents the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. The six points of the third star recall the history of the area;
1.France-1693,
2.Great Britain-1763,
3.Virginia-1778,
4.Northwest Territory-1798,
5.Indian Territory-1802, and
6.Illinois Statehood-1818.
The fourth star was added in 1933 for the Exposition of 1933 and represents Chicago's Century of Progress (Chicago became a city in 1833). The six points of the fourth star signify;
1. The country's third largest city,
2. The city's Latin motto ( Urbs in horto- City in a Garden),
3. "I Will" motto,
4. Great central market,
5. Wonder City, and
6. Convention City.
That's the history, and meaning, of Chicago's great flag.
Jack Voss CTFTMP #415
