Five options remain for new Mississippi state flag

A state commission charged with recommending a new design for Mississippi’s state flag has narrowed down its options to five entries, the group announced Tuesday.

The commission met Tuesday morning, WTVA reported, and voted to narrow their considerations, which are required to include the phrase, “In God We Trust,” and not contain references to Confederate battle flag, which was a part of the previous Mississippi flag retired by state lawmakers earlier this year.

Of the designs, four contain imagery of magnolia blossoms, from the official state tree, and one depicts an image of a shield colored red, white and blue in an echo of the U.S. flag.

One commission member said during Tuesday’s meeting that the governor’s signature on the bill retiring the previous state flag in late June was hugely important to him.

“When the flag came down, it was one of the great days of my life,” said chairman Reuben Anderson, according to The Associated Press.

The five finalists will all be sewn and hoisted outside the Old Capitol in Jackson.

The commission will vote again on a final recommendation for the new state flag on Sept. 2, after which their recommendations will be sent to the state legislature and the office of Gov. Tate Reeves (R).