Petition aims to keep current state flag in Minnesota

Photo courtesy State Emblems Redesign Commission, Minnesota Secretary of State

Above left: Petition signers want to keep the current Minnesota state flag and are opposed to the new rendition. Local protesters submitted 64 pages of signatures from a petition against adopting the new flag. Above right: The final design of the new Minnesota state flag is a modified version of a submission by 24-year-old Andrew Prekker, of Luverne, that was selected from hundreds of renditions.

By Robert Williams

Editor

Dissenting voices are growing around Minnesota and here in Becker County against the implementation of the new state flag and seal.

With prompting from the Lakes Area Patriots (LAP), the Becker County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution in opposition to the redesigned Minnesota state flag and seal on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Becker County Republican Deputy Chair Brian Ahlsten, representing LAP, submitted a 64-page, signed petition in opposition to the proposed flag and seal. The petition, along with requesting the commissioners to go on the record in opposition, stated the flag and seal belong to the citizens of Minnesota and the citizens were not consulted regarding this change.

LAP also submitted such actions as to officially make the state aware of the county’s position and resolve to spend zero dollars on replacing the current flag and seal.

Becker County was not the first in the state to present an opposing few to the change. It joins Houston, Crow Wing, Wadena, McLeod, Nobles, Fillmore, Douglas and others.

Chairman John Okeson stated his opposition to changing the state flag.

“It seems like it’s rural versus metro on this,” he said.

Roger Winter, chairman of the Becker County Township Association also commented.

“On this flag deal, we would support you,” he said. “I think it’s ridiculous what they’re doing. There is nothing wrong with that flag.”

Commissioner Erica Jepson gave her support stating there was not enough input and thought from Minnesotans, especially in the rural area. 

“I would have liked for there to be more county input throughout the state on whether it needs to change and what it should look like,” Jepson said.

Commissioner Barry Nelson brought up the history and representation shown in the current flag compared to the new design. 

“The new flag is very bland and there is nothing that screams Minnesota on it, at all. I don’t know why you would go to a very bland flag from one that has the history in it.”

Commissioner Vareberg stated he has gotten many calls from residents against the flag.

“I like the old flag; I don’t want a new flag,” he said.

The board agreed to mirror a Crow Wing County resolution in opposition and send that to the state signed by the board chair.

LAP members have been at the ground level garnering signatures from residents throughout the region. While they are against the new flag, they are for allowing Minnesota residents to have their say.

“I’d like to see the people be able to vote on this,” LAP member Stephen Ulschmid said. “Instead of a majority down in the capital saying we’re going to change the flag; we don’t care about the cost; we’re just going to change it. It’s getting to the point where the government thinks we work for them. They work for us!”

Ulschmid, a Frazee resident, placed petitions around town garnering multiple pages of signatures in support at Third Crossing, The Palace Cafe, Joe’s Barber Shop and the VFW. Ulschmid also pointed to www.mngop.org/savetheflag where an online petition is available.

“With this petition, we don’t want that flag flying in Becker County,” said Ulschmid.

The new flag is scheduled to start flying on Saturday, May 11, the 166th anniversary of Minnesota’s statehood.

State departments and agencies that have materials with the old flag or seal on it will be able to use their current stock until the supply is depleted or January 1, 2025.

Ulschmid has joined other Minnesotans who have ordered the former flag to personally have on hand and is against removing the seal from the flag. He also noted he would have been more in favor of putting the new seal on the flag, which depicts the call of the state bird.

“That would be a heck of an improvement,” he said.

Regardless of any potential changes, Ulschmid is steadfast in his top desire to simply keep the flag the state already has.

“Don’t be messin’ with it,” he said. “It’s been there since 1858, why mess with it? If we don’t start doing something it’s going to go through on the 11th of May. This should not be a one party act to change Minnesota history.”