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Symbolism. The two Latin mottos read Speramus Meliora and Resurget Cineribus, meaning "We hope for better things" and "It will rise from the ashes", which was written by Gabriel Richard after the Great Fire of 1805. The seal is a representation of the Detroit fire which occurred on June 11, 1805.
The upper left and the lower right sections represent the United States, the 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent the 13 original colonies and American control of the city before and following the War of 1812.
- The Detroit Flag is Older Than You Think. The Detroit flag is a bit of a history book itself, and its story goes back farther than you might expect. Believe it or not, this emblem of Motor City pride was officially adopted on April 23, 1907, making it over a century old!
- The “W” Stands for “William” Right there, smack in the middle of the Detroit flag, stands a big, bold “W.” But hold on, what’s the story behind this “W”?
- Detroit’s French Roots. Detroit has deep roots, and it all goes back to when it was called “Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit” during French colonial rule.
- Motown’s Musical Influence. The Detroit flag isn’t just about history; it’s got a groove of inspiration, too! It’s like a musical note in the city’s story.
The flag of the City of Detroit was designed in 1907 by David E. Heineman and was officially adopted as the city's flag in 1948. The flag's design has been slightly altered several times in the years since, the most recent in 2000.
Oct 17, 2013 · The white field of five fleurs-de-lis at the lower left represents France under the House of Bourbon, which held Detroit from 1701 to 1760. The red field containing three lions passant at the upper right represents Great Britain, who held the city from 1760 to 1796, and again during the War of 1812 from 1812 to 1813.
Aug 29, 2014 · Here's a look at the symbolism behind the images in the flag: The seal itself was created by J.O. Lewis, who got paid 5 bucks for his efforts. Depicted are two female figures, and behind them are...
Jun 14, 2016 · The flag features the fleur-de-lis to represent France, who founded Detroit in 1701. The gold lions are for Great Britain, who controlled the city from 1760-1796. "The seal in the middle...